| Author |
 Replies: 27 / Views: 7,505 |
|
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Just went through my hundreds of wheat pennies and come across this 1943 Copper Wheatie!! Not trying to get to excited but did some research and they hold great value. I have tested with a magnet and it's not a fake copper coated steel penny. So looking for some advice moving forward as to potential value, who to take it to to authenticate and potentially where to sell if it turns out to have substantial value. Thanks in advance for any and all help!   Edited by Cougarkb
04/16/2017 8:53 pm
|
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1475 Posts |
If it's real, then it's worth tens of thousands to more than $100,000.
Unfortunately, you have a fake coin. Sorry... but keep hunting.
|
|
New Member
 United States
6 Posts |
Why would you say it's a fake Joe? It's not a steel that was copper plated since I tried the whole magnet test.
|
|
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
And it's not a 1948 with the left side of the 8 shaved off since the 1943 has the 3 lower then the 4 and the 1948 appear to be side my side and not staggered
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
It would be an exciting find, but this looks like a plated specimen to me. Is that zinc showing on the rim? Weigh your specimen. That should help establish what you have there. Good luck!
|
|
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Rackster it's non-magnetic. If it where a steel that was played wouldn't it stick to a magnet?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts |
Odds are it's not genuine. There are a few tests to determine authenticity
1. Magnet test if it sticks it is plated
2. Weight test steel penny weight should be 2.70 grams, copper penny should weigh 3.11 grams
3. Check the date for alterations i.e. A 1948 penny can be modified to look like a 1943
If all 3 pass then I would bring it to a reputable dealer and have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC.
Your odds of finding one are worse than winning the lottery mega jackpot
|
|
Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Well, well, well...not magnetic huh? How much does it weigh? Should be 3.11 g if a copper cent, steel is 2.8. The details do look ok, correct 4, and 3 (not a modified 1948) LIBERTY looks about right, low B ...get the weight, go from there. It still may be a copper plated lead or other slug. My copper 43D...gee, whats "pushing" it?  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
|
|
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
I guess having it weighed is next on the agenda and try and find a coin guy with a good reputation. I'm from NJ and the 1.7 million dollar penny was sold by a company about an hour or so away.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
54280 Posts |
 Don't forget, they make these in China by the thousands and sell them for about $2 post paid. It can be non-magnetic, weigh about right and not be altered -- and still be fake. There are tens of thousands of the fakes out there and only a few dozen genuine 1943 copper cents. You calculate the odds of it being genuine. We get about one new member a week asking about their 1943 copper cent. If you have a gram scale, how much does it weigh? Is it the exact same diameter as your other wheat cents (stack it with a few and see)? |
|
New Member
United States
6 Posts |
NNS I understand and I'm not to excited considering the extreme rarity in find one of these coins. This came from a coin collection my mom has given me from years of collecting dating back to the early 60s. I in no way claim it's authentic, just looking for great advice like I'm receiving from all of you.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Hi Cougar = The toning of your specimen smacks of a plated steel cent. As noted, we see these pop up frequently here and get a number of looks. Although out of focus, the bow tie appears to be showing steel/zinc through the thin copper plate. Same is true of the reverse C in CENT and the rim.
If you don't have a scale, you can create a see-saw scale with a battery, tape, and popsicle stick. Play with the scale where it balances two copper cents then replace one with your specimen. If it's copper, the scale should balance. Otherwise, you will know if you have a copper plated specimen.
As noted, there are a number of fakes out there that are copper. At this point, you need to familiarize yourself with die sets and get a professional assessment. Most LCS's are probably not capable of such an assessment. Due to their rarity, a narrow group of experts exist to authenticate. But a number of folks here have skills to spot fakes...even very good ones.
Hoping you have one, but the odds are against it being the real deal.
|
|
Moderator
United States
54280 Posts |
They have been making these since the forties and even ran newspaper ads for copper plated ones in the fifties.
It would be very nice if it were genuine.
Please keep us informed as to what you find out, even if it turns out to be not a genuine error cent.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
|
| |
Replies: 27 / Views: 7,505 |
Posted 04/16/2017 8:47 pm
