The 1943 Steel Wheat Penny was one of the World War II coins that fascinated people and is even one of the excellent and valuable coins.
This penny was originally minted around the time the country needed the copper for war purposes, but using steel instead, a few rare copper versions made their way into the coins and became very valuable today.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the 1943 Steel Wheat penny, a coin that collectors and enthusiasts should be on the lookout for for their great value.
1943 Steel Wheat Penny
The composition of the 1943 Steel Wheat Penny is unique. It was minted during World War II and made from steel instead of copper to save the copper for war supplies. But what makes this penny so valuable is that a few copper-versions were miscut. They are so rare, and the pennies are so worn down with the passage of time from groups of tourists washing their hands on them, that these copper pennies can sell for up to $2.5 million at auction and are considered one of the rarest and most sought-after coins in the world.
1909-S VDB Wheat Penny
Collectors also prize the 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny. Its value rests from mintage numbers and the initials of the designer (V.D.B.) on the reverse. Given that there are only 484,000 of these very desirable coins out there being 1909-S VDB pennies, they can sell for over $100,000 in mint condition, or perhaps more.
1914-D Wheat Penny
The 1914-D Wheat Penny is rare since the Denver mint did not produce much of them. This is a particularly valuable coin in higher grades and collectors will pay a premium for holding together sterling coins. As with any other Wheat Penny, the edition of 1914 D can be easily sold for more than $100,000, depending on its state.
1922 No D Wheat Penny
The 1922 No. D Wheat Penny is actually one of the most interesting errors in U.S. coinage history. These pennies were struck in the Denver mint, but, because of a striking error, some coins did not have the “D” mint mark. The high prices of both the 1922 No. D penny and the 1922 No. O penny in good to very good grades have made this error a rare and valuable collector’s item.
1944 Steel Wheat Penny
Another rarity that collectors should be aware of is the 1944 Steel Wheat Penny. Of the 1944 pennies, most were made of copper, but a few got mixed in with leftover steel from the 1943 production year. But according to the United States Mint website, these rare steel pennies can bring thousands of dollars, so anyone lucky enough to find one is in for a treat.
| Coin Name | Year | Composition | Value | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 Steel Wheat Penny | 1943 | Steel | Up to $2.5M | Wartime steel, rare copper version |
| 1909-S VDB Wheat Penny | 1909 | Copper | $100,000+ | Designer’s initials on the reverse |
| 1914-D Wheat Penny | 1914 | Copper | $100,000+ | Limited production from Denver mint |
| 1922 No D Wheat Penny | 1922 | Copper | $90,000+ | Omitted mint mark error |
| 1944 Steel Wheat Penny | 1944 | Steel | $75,000+ | Leftover steel from the previous year |
FAQs
Q. What makes the 1943 Steel Wheat Penny so valuable?
A. The 1943 Steel Wheat Penny is rare and worth while because there are ones with copper that were taken off the table by mistake because during World War II copper was needed to make war supplies. They really fetch millions at auction of these rare copper coins.
Q. How can I tell if I have a rare Wheat Penny?
A. Mint year, mint mark, and very rare errors or anomalies are all key to look for. The 1909-S VDB, 1914 D, and 1922 No D coins are valuable for being rare and error coins.
Q. Why is the 1922 No D Wheat Penny valuable?
A. The 1922 No. D Wheat Penny is valuable because it’s an error coin and a rare one at that: It was “minted” without a “D” mintmark.
Q. How much is a 1914-D Wheat Penny worth today?
A. A 1914-D Wheat Penny can be worth more than $100,000 (or more) depending on its condition and rarity.
Q. What should I do if I think I have a valuable penny?
A. If you think you have a valuable coin, however, it’s important to get it professionally appraised by a numismatist or send it to a coin grading service to find out how much your coin is really worth.