The United States Mint switched from bronze to zinc-coated steel for Lincoln cents in 1943.
This change was made to save copper for the war effort.
A few leftover bronze blanks from 1942 remained in the tote bins at the mint facilities.
Workers fed the machines without noticing the stray planchets.
The Denver Mint struck this famous piece on one of those leftover bronze blanks.
It stands out as one of the most famous transitional off-metal errors in American numismatics.
This legendary coin crossed the auction block through Heritage Auctions.
The piece was certified in an impressive grade of 64.
A grade of 64 represents a choice uncirculated coin with strong eye appeal and minimal surface marks.
The auction record for this piece was set during a notable sale cataloged under the 01/21 event.
Heritage Auctions handled the bidding as specialized collectors competed for this unique prize.
High-grade certified survivors bring substantial sums because they offer guaranteed authenticity and top-tier preservation.
Most everyday coins will never reach this level of preservation or value.
Extreme rarity is the primary reason this piece commands such attention.
While the Denver facility produced hundreds of millions of steel cents that year, bronze strikes were never supposed to happen.
Only one authentic bronze example from the Denver Mint is currently recognized.
Lincoln cent collectors consider this off-metal error a premier centerpiece for an advanced set.
Demand from serious collectors consistently outweighs the virtually nonexistent supply.
The combination of a world-famous wartime mistake and pristine uncirculated condition pushes interest to the absolute limit.
You can use a simple magnet test to begin your inspection.
Standard 1943 cents are made of steel and will stick firmly to a magnet.
A true bronze cent will not stick to a magnet at all.
Be careful when testing, because many common steel pennies were later coated in copper to fool collectors.
Plated steel coins will still stick to a magnet even if they look like brown copper.
Check the date closely under good lighting with a 5x or 10x jeweler's loupe.
Look at the small "D" mint mark beneath the date to confirm the mint location.
You should also weigh the coin on a precise digital scale.
An authentic bronze cent should weigh about 3.11 grams, while a steel cent weighs only 2.7 grams.
If you want a quick check at home, you can use CoinKnow or Coin Value Checker to scan your coin and review the basic specs.
Always send any promising candidate to a major third-party grading service for formal authentication.
If you would rather check at home, the coin valuation app tools we tested side by side works from your couch.