I’m a coin expert and you could be a millionaire if you have a 1940’s Lincoln penny – what to look for

COINS usually appear every day – but maybe you’ve come across one worth millions before and didn’t even know it.

This could happen to one of your Lincoln Pennies minted by the US Mint since 1909.

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Some of the most valuable Lincoln pennies were minted in the 1940s.

where to look

During World War II, the mint temporarily made its pennies out of steel to preserve bronze.

In 1943 it reportedly struck more than a billion Lincoln steel pennies.

However, a small number of bronze coins were still created.

But according to coin expert Eric Miller, known on TikTok as “thecoinchannel,” there is none rarer than the 1943-D (Denver) penny.

“It was actually struck bronze when it was about to be struck zinc,” said Mr. Miller.

Only one is known to have sold for 1.7 million at auction in 2010.

However, the USA Coin Book noted that “most experts believe there are still some to be discovered!”

While this particular coin may be difficult to find, you can identify it by looking for a 1943 date on the obverse, which can be found to the right of the Lincoln portrait.

It will then have the D stroke just below the date.

More valuable coins from the 1940s

There are now a few other valuable coins from the 1940s.

In fact, there are other rare bronze pennies with the same date.

“We estimate that less than 20 bronze Lincoln cents were erroneously struck in 1943 at the Philadelphia and San Francisco (S) mints,” said Don Willis, past president of the Professional Coin Grading Service.

The 1943 Lincoln bronze piece minted in Philadelphia (without mint marks) averages $141,198 and goes up to $399,635 in uncirculated condition.

The 1943-S penny averages $246,227.

Meanwhile, a buyer paid $1 million for one at auction in 2012.

Also keep an eye out for Lincoln steel pennies dated 1944.

The unminted 1944 Lincoln Steel Cent is worth $28,210 in average condition.

The 1944-D Steel Penny is worth nearly $33,981 on average.

To see if your spare change is worth something, you can check eBay by searching for the full name, selecting the listing “sold” and then toggling the search to “highest value”.

This gives you an idea of ​​how much the coin might be worth, as your quarters, half dollars, dimes, and nickels might also be valuable.

Check out the most valuable state quarters worth up to $788.