Lincoln Wheat Penny Valued at $33 Million – Rare Coin Reportedly Still in Circulation

Published On: March 30, 2025

Imagine rummaging through your pocket change and discovering a coin worth $33 million. Sounds like a dream, right? But for some lucky collectors, that dream became a reality. The Lincoln Wheat Penny, especially the ultra-rare 1943 bronze version, has turned ordinary folks into millionaires. Let’s break down why this penny is so special, what makes it valuable, and how you can spot one in your spare change.

Table of Contents

1 Origins
2 Rarity
3 Value
4 Clues
5 Circulation
6 FAQs

Origins

The Lincoln Wheat Penny made its debut in 1909 to honor President Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday. It marked a major change in U.S. coin design—before that, coins typically featured symbolic imagery, not real people. Lincoln’s profile appeared on the front, and the reverse side had two wheat stalks framing the words “One Cent” and “United States of America.” The wheat design symbolized growth and prosperity and stayed in circulation until 1958, when it was replaced with the Lincoln Memorial design.

Over the decades, countless Lincoln Wheat Pennies were minted, but not all are created equal. Among them, the 1943 bronze edition is the true golden needle in a haystack.

Rarity

So, why is the 1943 bronze Lincoln Wheat Penny so rare and worth such an eye-popping amount? During World War II, copper was a critical material for ammunition and other military supplies. To save copper, the U.S. Mint produced pennies using zinc-coated steel in 1943. These steel cents looked silver, not the usual reddish-brown of copper pennies.

But here’s where the magic happened: a few bronze planchets (the metal blanks used before a coin is struck) were mistakenly left in the presses. As a result, a small batch of 1943 pennies was made using bronze instead of steel. These were accidentally released into circulation and are now some of the most valuable coins ever.

Value

The exact number of 1943 bronze pennies still in existence isn’t known, but experts estimate only a couple dozen. Their rarity has driven prices into the stratosphere. In fact, one of these pennies sold for a jaw-dropping $33 million, setting a record for one of the most expensive coins ever sold.

Clues

How do you know if the 1943 penny you have is a rare bronze one or just a common steel version? Here’s a quick checklist:

Feature	Bronze Penny	Steel Penny
Magnet Test	Not magnetic	Sticks to magnet
Color	Reddish-brown	Silver or gray
Weight	Slightly heavier	Lighter
Mint Marks	D, S, or no mark	Also has D, S, or none

Check the date: It must say 1943.
Try a magnet: Steel sticks, bronze doesn’t.
Look at the color: Bronze has a reddish tint; steel looks silver.
Check for mint marks: Versions from Philadelphia (no mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S) exist—and all are valuable.

If you think you’ve found one, don’t clean it or try to polish it. That can reduce its value. Instead, contact a certified coin grading service to verify its authenticity.

Circulation

You might be thinking, “Could these coins still be floating around?” The answer is—possibly. Some experts believe there could still be a few in circulation. It’s rare, but not impossible. That’s why collectors and everyday people alike still search through jars of pennies, hoping to find a forgotten fortune.

Most people ignore pennies altogether, leaving them in drawers, coin jars, or even tossing them away. But that’s exactly why a few rare coins may still be out there, waiting to be discovered. So, next time you grab some change, take a second look—you just might strike gold.

You don’t need to be a professional collector to get lucky. Sometimes, all it takes is a curious eye and a little knowledge. The story of the 1943 bronze Lincoln Wheat Penny is a perfect example of how history, chance, and value can all collide in the palm of your hand.