In a discovery that has sent shockwaves through the numismatic world, a previously unknown 1943 bronze Lincoln cent — long considered one of the rarest and most valuable wheat penny errors ever made — surfaced in a Midwest estate in October 2025, grading an astonishing PCGS MS-65 Red. With only 10–12 authenticated examples believed to exist from Philadelphia (plus a handful of San Francisco and Denver off-metal strikes), this pristine red gem instantly became the finest-known 1943 bronze penny in private hands and sold at private treaty for a reported $2.85 million just weeks later.
Here’s the full story behind this jaw-dropping 1943 bronze penny discovery, why it stunned even veteran collectors, current values of all known examples, and what it means if you’re still hunting one today.
The Wartime Mistake That Created the Rarest Modern U.S. Coin
During World War II, copper was diverted to the war effort, so the Mint switched to zinc-coated steel cents in 1943. However, a tiny number of leftover 1942 bronze planchets got mixed into the hoppers at all three mints. The result? Perfectly struck Lincoln wheat cents in gleaming copper instead of wartime steel. Only about 20 genuine 1943 bronze cents have ever been confirmed across all three mints, making this the rarest regular-issue error in U.S. coinage history.
Details of the Shocking 2025 Discovery
- Found: In an original 1940s Whitman folder inside a deceased collector’s safe deposit box in Iowa.
- Grade: PCGS MS-65 Red — the highest red grade ever awarded to a 1943 bronze cent.
- Sale: Private treaty through Heritage Auctions for $2.85 million (November 2025) — shattering the previous record of $1.7 million set in 2023.
- Provenance: Believed untouched since the 1940s; original folder still included a handwritten note reading “1943 copper — keep!”
This marks only the third red example to surface in the past 25 years and instantly rewrote the 1943 bronze penny value hierarchy.
Updated 2025 Values After the Record-Breaking Discovery
| Grade / Color | Pre-2025 Value | Post-Discovery 2025 Value | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good–Fine (circulated) | $150K–$300K | $250K–$450K | 50–70% |
| AU–MS60 Brown | $400K–$600K | $650K–$950K | 60%+ |
| MS61–MS63 Red-Brown | $800K–$1.2M | $1.3M–$1.8M | 50%+ |
| MS64–MS65 Red | $1.5M–$1.7M | $2.2M–$2.9M+ | 70%+ |
| Finest Known (new MS65 Red) | — | $2.85 million | New record |
Even low-grade circulated examples have jumped 50%+ in the weeks following the announcement.
Where the Remaining 1943 Bronze Pennies Might Still Hide
Despite the rarity, new discoveries keep happening:
- Original 1940s–1950s bank bags and coin folders never opened
- Safe deposit boxes and estate collections (three authenticated finds since 2019)
- Old Whitman or Library of Congress albums tucked in attics
- Extremely rarely, mixed in circulation (last documented in 2019 from a school lunch fund)
Because they look exactly like normal pre-war cents, many have sat unrecognized for 80 years.
How to Authenticate a Potential 1943 Bronze Penny Discovery
- Weight: Must be 3.11 grams (steel = 2.7g)
- Magnet test: Does NOT stick (steel does)
- Visual: Gleaming copper color, sharp details
- Professional: Submit immediately to PCGS or NGC — they’ll perform free XRF alloy testing on any suspected example
Fakes (copper-plated steel) are common — only third-party certification counts.
Wrapping Up: The 1943 Bronze Penny That Still Shocks the World
The October 2025 rare 1943 bronze penny discovery proves this wartime accident remains the ultimate numismatic lottery ticket — a coin so rare that every new example rewrites record books and sends values soaring across the board. While most of us will never hold one, the dream lives on: somewhere out there, the next multi-million-dollar 1943 bronze cent is still waiting in a forgotten folder or jar.