In 2025, Ohio resident Emily Dawson made an unexpected find in her late grandmother’s cookie jar — not sweet treats, but a rare 1943 bronze Lincoln penny. Amid a jumble of old coins, she noticed a coin that didn’t stick to a magnet and had a distinct weight and color. This was no ordinary penny.
Why the 1943 Bronze Penny Is Special
During World War II, from 1943 onward, the U.S. Mint used zinc-coated steel for pennies to conserve copper for the war effort. Any 1943 penny made of bronze (a copper alloy) is a major off-metal error, making it an extremely rare and highly sought-after coin.
Only approximately 15–30 such pennies are known in existence, spanning Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (one), and San Francisco (one to four) specimens.
Authentication and Expert Review
Initial Testing
- Magnet test: True copper pennies are non-magnetic. The jar penny passed with flying colors.
- Weighing scale: Weighing around 3.11 g, it matched copper planchet standards.
- Detailed inspection: The coin’s sharp strike and rich orange-brown patina matched authenticated examples.
Professional Certification
Emily submitted the coin to a leading grading service. The result: the penny was certified as UNC‑58 Red, placing it in almost mint condition with exceptional surfaces.
Recent Sale: A Coin Worth $35,000
Three months after certification, the coin sold through a specialist numismatic dealer for $35,000. Here’s a breakdown:
| Coin Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Coin | 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny |
| Mint Mark | Philadelphia (no mint mark) |
| Condition | UNC‑58 Red (Uncirculated) |
| Authentication | Graded by a professional service |
| Sale Price | $35,000 |
| Buyer Interest | Multiple offers from collectors |
| Provenance | Found in family cookie jar in Ohio |
What Drives the Value?
- Extreme rarity: Estimated at just 15–30 coins total.
- Off-metal error: Bronze instead of zinc-steel — one of the most spectacular mint mistakes.
- Condition: High grade UNC or MS coins attract premium bidding.
- Proven provenance: Found in inherited family holdings adds narrative appeal.
- Collector enthusiasm: Each confirmed example is hotly contested in numismatic circles.
Why It Matters to You
- If you’re casually saving pennies, it’s worth testing ones from 1943.
- A magnet test or scale check (<3 g for steel, ~3.11 g for copper) can quickly identify anomalies.
- Even if not found in a jar, error collectors pay top dollar for authenticated specimens.
Key Figures at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Time of Minting | 1943 |
| Correct Material | Zinc-coated steel |
| Error Material | Bronze (copper alloy) |
| Known Examples | Estimated 15–30 globally |
| Mint Marks Known | Philadelphia (no mark), Denver (1), San Francisco (1–4) |
| Condition Grade | Certified UNC‑58 Red for recently sold coin |
| Sale Price | $35,000 |
| Value Range | $100,000–$1 million+ historically, but $35K for mid-grade coins recently |
| Key Tests | Magnet, scale, professional grading |
| Significance | Historic, high-demand numismatic rarity |
How to Check Your Change
- Magnets: If a 1943 penny doesn’t stick, it’s likely bronze.
- Weight check: Steel pennies are ~2.7 g; bronze ones ~3.11 g.
- Visual inspection: Look for a rich reddish or brown color and clinic-quality strike.
- Professional grading: Essential step before selling; major price differences hinge on certification.
Why $35,000 Isn’t Even the Ceiling
The current record for a 1943 bronze penny exceeds $1 million, set by a Denver specimen in 2010, graded MS‑63. Another San Francisco variety fetched $1 million in 2012.
Meanwhile, the most recent UNC‑58 Red Philadelphia sold for $35,000—a remarkable midpoint, but still far below the top-end value due to grading and provenance variations.
Tips for Collectors & Casual Savers
- Keep a cheap jar or coin tray for sorting change.
- Use a magnet and small scale (under $20 online) to spot suspect 1943 coins.
- Take coins of interest to a marked coins dealer or Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS/NGC).
- Document where and how it was found—provenance enhances future value.
The story of the $35,000 cookie jar penny underlines how a simple mint error can translate into significant financial gain. While only a few are known worldwide, each new discovery reinforces collector fascination.
Whether the queen of your jar is copper or steel, when you find a 1943 penny, it’s worth more than a glance—it could be a fortune in the making.
FAQs
Q1: How rare is a 1943 bronze penny?
Only 15–30 examples are confirmed across Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mint marks. That puts them among the rarest demo error coins.
Q2: Why did this penny sell for $35,000 and not more?
Grade and mint mark matter: this coin was certified UNC‑58 Red and from Philadelphia. Higher-grade or different varieties can command up to $1 million+.
Q3: How can I tell if my 1943 penny is bronze?
Use a magnet (bronze won’t stick), scale (~3.11 g weight), observe color and strike detail, then get professional grading to confirm.