Spot This Valuable Penny in Your Change and It Could Be Worth $85K

In theory, no copper pennies should have been made in 1943.

But things don’t always go according to plan.

A few leftover copper blanks—the small discs used to make coins—were accidentally fed into the presses alongside the steel blanks. No one noticed, and the machines stamped them and sent them into circulation. What should have been an ordinary year suddenly turned historic, and those accidental copper pennies became some of the rarest coins in American history.

Only a handful exist. Experts estimate that fewer than 25 genuine 1943 copper pennies have ever been found.

That rarity sends collectors into a frenzy. A real 1943 copper penny in top condition can sell for around $85,000. Even one that’s worn, scratched, or dull still sells for about $60,000. For a single penny.

Think about that: a coin worth one cent could pay off debt, buy a car, or even help start a business—if you happen to find the right one.

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