New 1943-S Copper Penny Discovered!
Steven Contursi of Rare Coin Wholesalers has announced that he recently acquired an exciting coin - a previously unknown 1943-S Copper Penny! As most collectors know, the 1943 U.S. Cents were struck in zinc-coated steel that year, because the copper was needed for the WWII effort. However, around a dozen 1943-dated major error coins slipped out of the three U.S. Mints operating at the time (San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia.) These coins, which are called off-metal strikes or transitional errors today, were erroneously struck on copper, rather than the intended steel, coin blanks. (An off-metal strike is a coin struck on the wrong metal type, and a transitional error means that the coin design or its blank type was in a period of transition from one type to another. Both descriptions are correct for the 1943 copper cents, but the latter one is "sexier" and more modern (meaning it makes you sound smarter if you use it.))
When Contursi became aware of the newly-discovered 1943-S copper cent, he found that the coin came with a great story! In the end, after getting the coin graded and authenticated (it came back from NGC graded AU-53,) Contursi paid $72,500 to buy the coin and a related file of correspondence, which included a letter from the U.S. Mint Acting Director of the time claiming that the Mint did not strike the coin! Contursi plans to exhibit the coin and its correspondence at the ANA World's Fair of Money this week, so if you're in Baltimore, be sure to stop by his booth.
The story of a teenage boy finding the coin in circulation, followed by his years of correspondence as he tried to get it authenticated somehow, make fascinating reading. Check out the story of the newly discovered 1943-S copper penny.
Photo courtesy of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC.)
Comments
That is exciting news! Goes to show that even today coins can still be discoverd that where previously thought to be lost. Congradulations to the Wing family on thier great find and contribution to the numastics community!
I have a North Dakota Diamond Jubilee 75th Anniversary souvenir half dollar. I am trying to find out if anyone collects them and how much its worth?
Don’t dump the penny. We lost our currency in England in the seventies, and the cost of living went sky high. And the value of your devalue. So you was worst off in you pat packet. They are trying to change us to euro money, what a mistake that will be. The England will be lost for ever. So all you Americana’s keep your penny and your dollar. don’t do want the England Goverment did here,and give your heritage away.
Sorry about the spelling mistakes, it should be pay packet, and the value of your money will devalue. Sid from England.
OMG!!
l love this site guys..GREAT!
I was counting my five gallon bucket of pennies the other day and I was not really looking for wheat pennies but I do look at them if they land tails side up. So this one landed tails side up and I looked at the date and I could not make it out.
I tossed it in my drawer and continued counting. I knew about the 1943 copper penny for a long time but I said to myself “yeah right like I am going to find one” then I got curious. I stopped what I was doing and used a wash cloth to wipe some black stuff off it I made out the numbers 194 then I scrubbed and scrubbed and it hapend to be a 3 at the end . Its a 1943 S. I can’t see how anyone could fake this coin but thats what it is and it is copper. Now I am scared that the media will surround me and I am not sure what I can do.
I want to sell it if it turns out to be real but how? Help me.
i HAVE A 1943 S PENNY. HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT IF ITS WORTH ANYTHING OR WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO BUY IT? HELP SOMEONE, i AM A DISABLED, AMERICAN MOTHER WHO IS STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THE HEAT ON, SO IF ANYONE CAN OFFER ME INFORMATION IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.