The pricing of old coins can be a complex and nuanced task. There are many factors involved, and for the most in-demand coins, some depend very much on human error and whim. To illustrate how these factors intersect, let’s take the 1943 copper cent as an example. This coin looks very much like the pennies you may have in your pocket or your spare change, but it’s worth much, much more. Let’s talk about why.
Old Coin Pricing: Error, Demand, and Whim
Everyone knows what copper pennies look like, but for one period during World War II, they looked slightly different. Copper was in short supply as the U.S. military demanded it all for the war effort. Because of this, the U.S. Mint decided to produce Lincoln cents made of zinc-coated steel in 1943. They became known as “steelies,” and they are popular with collectors.
