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Rumor had it that Henry Ford offered a car to anyone who could find one, and even though that rumor was totally unsubstantiated, the fervor for this penny was the real deal. People considered this a rare penny to look for, even when it was first minted.
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In 2010, one of the bronze Lincoln pennies sold for $1.7 million, far higher in value than the 1943 steel penny's value. The US Mint estimates that 40 of them still exist. No one noticed the error, and the pennies entered circulation. This resulted in the steel mixing with the copper for the first few pennies produced that year. When they made this switch, some of the copper was accidentally left in the hoppers. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny - About $1.7 MillionĪs World War II raged in 1943, the US Mint switched to making pennies out of steel to save copper for the war effort. Not all old pennies are valuable, but age is a starting point for identifying a penny worth money.Ģ.
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Those in favor of Lady Liberty won out, but of course, George Washington has graced many coins since, including the current quarter.Įven though you might not have a 1792 Birch Cent lying around, keep an eye out for any coin with an old date. Still, the first president, George Washington, was such a popular figure that many people wanted his likeness on the first penny. Keep in mind, the country was trying to separate itself from monarchies that had their kings and queens stamped on their coins. The coin features the profile of Lady Liberty on the front, which was a pretty controversial choice for the time. One in excellent "gem" condition sold in 2015 for an astounding $2.6 million. The coin was a "large cent," about the size of a quarter, and there are only 10 known examples. This penny is worth the most of all examples ever made. One of these is the famous Birch Cent of 1792, named after engraver Robert Birch. While the United States didn't officially start minting pennies until 1793, there were a few prototype pennies made prior to that time.
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