What pennies are not copper?
If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.
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Why is a 1943 penny so valuable?
The Rare 1943 Penny If your 1943 penny is made out of copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong planchet metal when striking the coin. But very, very few of these left the U.S.

What year pennies are not copper?
So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years. So a penny produced before 1982 is worth 2.2 cents based on the metal it contains.
What years did they make steel pennies?
1943 steel cents are U.S. one-cent coins that were struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints each produced these 1943 Lincoln cents….1943 steel cent.
Thickness | 1.55 mm |
Edge | Plain |
Composition | 99% steel with a thin layer of zinc |
Years of minting | 1943 |
Obverse |
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How much is a 1943s steel penny worth?
1943 Steel Penny Value Uncirculated 1943 cents from each branch mint. In MS60 they are worth $7; $15 in MS63; and $28 in MS65. At the higher-end, MS67 coins command $150 and MS68 examples command $2,250. Of the over 12,000 1943 steel cents graded MS60 or above, only 75 are in MS68.

Is a 1983-D penny rare?
There’s a rare 1983 copper penny (a 1983-D penny) worth $15,000 — you could find one in your pocket change! Here’s what to look for + Other rare copper pennies.
Is a 1975 d penny worth anything?
The current copper melt value for each penny is about $0.02. These coins can only sell for a premium in uncirculated condition. The 1975 penny with no mint mark and the 1975 D penny are each worth around $1 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade.
How much is a 1968’s penny?
Due to the scarcity of the 1968 S Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Memorial cents, the prices are normally high but depend on collector demand. For an average grade regular strike 1968 S DDO, the price is about $8. Uncirculated examples are worth approximately $20.