Before you take your spare change to the bank, take a quick look at your pennies. One special penny from 1943 could be worth as much as $85,000!
Yes, you read that right. During World War II, there was a shortage of copper because so much was needed for the war. As a result, the U.S. made pennies from stainless steel instead of copper for one year, 1943. However, some copper pennies were still accidentally made, and those are now very rare and valuable.
Today, pennies are mostly made from zinc with a thin layer of copper. Since 1982, pennies have not been pure copper, except for that one year, 1943, when the copper pennies are especially rare and valuable.
If you find a 1943 copper penny in good condition, it could be worth around $60,000. If it’s in perfect condition, it could be worth even more — up to $85,000. Even if it’s a bit damaged, it could still be worth something.
Finding one of these pennies is very rare, though. Most people probably won’t come across a real one, and fake ones are common. But next time you see a penny, you might want to check the year before tossing it into your jar!
