The Lincoln Wheat Penny Valued at $1.90 Million, Still in Circulation

Almost all of us have an old jar of coins lying around, right? Now, what if I told you that one of those pennies was worth almost $2 million? If you can believe it, a coin that looks like any other—the Lincoln Wheat Penny—has sold for an amazing $1.9 million.

This is the kind of story that makes you want to check your change right away.

A Penny with Presidential Roots

The Lincoln Wheat Penny was made for the first time in 1909 to honor Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday. It was important because it was the first time a living person was shown on U.S. money. The coin was designed by Victor D. Brenner and had two wheat stalks on the back and a respectable side profile of Lincoln on the front. It’s simple, basic, and bound to be great.

These days, this penny is one of the most sought-after coins in the world. It used to be just spare change.

Wartime Necessity Creates a Rare Mistake

Go back to 1943, when World War II was going on. Because copper was needed for the war, the U.S. Mint used zinc-coated steel to make pennies that year. That’s why 1943 pennies look like they are silver instead of copper.

But here’s the catch: some extra brass blanks from 1942 were used by mistake in the minting process for 1943. These rare mistakes, which are now known as “1943 bronze pennies,” got into circulation by accident.

There are now only about 20 of these very rare coins known to survive. A shocking $1.9 million was paid at auction for one. A huge payout for a small mistake.

Could One Still Be Out There?

That’s the main question. Collectors think there may still be a few of these rare coins hidden in plain sight, like in a drawer that hasn’t been used in a while, a dusty change jar, or an old wallet that someone has given you.

That’s what makes it magic. To check coins is like going on a modern prize hunt. You never know what your extra change could hold.

How to Spot a 1943 Bronze Penny

• Do you think you’ve found one? To check, do the following:
• It needs to say 1943 for the year.
• Test with a magnet: Steel pennies stick to them. Bronze ones don’t have that.
• Color: Bronze is a deep brown-red color. Steel looks like silver.
• How much it weighs: A metal penny is about 3.11 grams heavy.
• Even if your coin seems real, you should still have a coin expert check it out. There are a lot of fakes out there.
• Other Wheat Pennies That Can Be Valuable
• If you can’t find the 1943 metal penny, you can still get a lot of money for other Lincoln Wheat Pennies:
• 1909-S VDB: An early version with the designer’s letters that is very sought after.
• 1914-D: Made in Denver, not many were made, but they were very valuable.
• 1922, “No. D”: A Denver penny that doesn’t seem to have a mint mark on it.
• 1955 Doubled Die: The number and letters look like they are written twice, which is a very clear mistake.
• People who collect these coins are still interested in them because each one has its own story.

Why This Coin Still Captivates

There’s something very American about getting rich off of spare change. The Lincoln Wheat Penny is now more than just money; it’s a sign of luck, finding, and possibility.

As our world becomes more and more computerized, coins like these are becoming more and more valuable. In your hands, they’re past, and for some, they’re a good buy.

Take a better look the next time you sort through your change. You could be sitting on a lot of money.

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