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1943 copper penny or steel? The magnet test

3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

Why 1943 pennies are steel

During World War II, the country needed copper for ammunition and other war supplies. In December 1942, Congress let the Mint change what the penny was made of. For 1943, the Mint used low-grade steel with a thin zinc coat. The three Mints made about 1.09 billion of them that year.

The new pennies weighed about 2.70 grams, lighter than the 3.11-gram copper ones. People mixed them up with dimes, and the edges rusted easily. In 1944 the Mint went back to a copper alloy.

A normal steel 1943 1943 Steel is common. Our G-4 catalogue estimate is 6¢; condition and altered surfaces affect any actual offer.

The rare bronze 1943

When the Mint switched to steel, a few bronze blanks left over from 1942 were still in the machines. They were struck with 1943 dies. These rare bronze errors exist 1943 Bronze (error). Published counts depend on the date and mint covered; old estimates are not a current census.

Step 1: the magnet test

Steel sticks to a magnet. Bronze doesn't. Use a magnet known to attract steel and bring it close without dragging it across the surface.

• It sticks: a steel core is likely. A copper-colored magnetic 1943 is commonly a plated steel cent, not the rare bronze error.
• It doesn't stick: keep going. It could be the rare bronze coin. But it could also be a 1945, 1948 or 1949 penny with the last digit changed to a 3.

Open the magnet test in the app

Step 2: weigh it

A bronze penny weighs about 3.11 grams. A steel one weighs about 2.70 grams. A copper-colored coin near 2.70 g that also attracts a magnet is consistent with plated steel. Weight alone does not establish metal or authenticity. Use a suitable calibrated scale and repeat the measurement.

Step 3: look at the date

On a real 1943, the 3 has the same long tail as the 3 on a steel cent. Compare your coin with a normal steel 1943 under a magnifier. An altered 8 may leave suspicious contours or tool marks. Their absence in a photo is not proof that the date is genuine.

Step 4: get it authenticated

If your coin doesn't stick, weighs about 3.11 grams and the date looks right, stop there. Don't clean it, and don't sell it to the first buyer who calls. Send it to a professional grading service such as PCGS or NGC for authentication. They can check signs that a phone photo can't show.

Fakes of this coin have been around for decades, because the real one is so famous. That's not a reason to skip the check. It's a reason to trust the experts with the last step.

Questions

Is my 1943 penny copper or steel?

Almost every 1943 penny is zinc-coated steel: silver-grey, attracted to a magnet and about 2.70 g. The rare bronze error does not stick to a magnet and weighs about 3.11 g.

Why is my 1943 penny silver?

Because it is steel. During World War II copper was needed for war supplies, so for 1943 the Mint made pennies from low-grade steel with a thin zinc coat. The three Mints made about 1.09 billion of them.

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth?

A normal 1943 steel penny is common. Our catalogue estimate for one in G-4 condition is 6¢; condition and altered or replated surfaces affect any real offer.

What if my 1943 penny doesn't stick to a magnet?

It could be the rare bronze error, but many are 1945, 1948 or 1949 pennies with the last digit changed to a 3. Weigh it (about 3.11 g for bronze), check the date under a magnifier, don't clean it, and have it authenticated by a service such as PCGS or NGC.

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Coins in this guide

• 1943 Steel

  Philadelphia · 684.6 million made

  7.5¢worn

  $2.00MS-60
• 1943 Bronze (error)

  Philadelphia · A handful known: about a dozen confirmed, and perhaps about 40 struck by mistake.

  ErrorTest first

  Rarely sold
• 1944

  Philadelphia · 1.4 billion made

  7.5¢worn

  79¢MS-60

Related guides

• 1944 steel penny: the error that sticks to a magnet
• Where to get a penny graded or sold — and when it's worth it

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
2. Wikipedia, “1943 steel cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
3. PCGS, “The 1943 Copper Cent: A Much-Discussed Rarity” (accessed 2026-10-05)
4. NGC, “Counterfeit Detection: Special Edition – Reprocessed Steel Cents” (accessed 2026-10-05)