The background
In 1943 the United States Mint struck cents on zinc-coated steel planchets to conserve copper for the war effort. A very small number of cents that year were struck on leftover bronze planchets from 1942, and those genuine 1943 bronze cents are among the most valuable error coins in existence. Their scarcity and fame created a century of imitations. The two common ones are a 1943 steel cent plated with copper, and a 1948 bronze cent with the 8 altered to look like a 3. Rarer fakes include cast copies and altered 1945 or 1949 cents.
Test one: the magnet
Steel is magnetic. Bronze is not. Hold a magnet to the coin. If the coin is attracted, it is a steel cent, and its copper color is plating. The test takes one second and eliminates the most common fake immediately. A genuine 1943 bronze cent does not respond to a magnet at all.
This test resolves the majority of copper-colored 1943 cents brought to dealers.
Test two: the weight
A bronze cent of the 1940s weighs 3.11 grams. A steel cent weighs 2.70 grams. Copper plating adds a negligible amount. A coin that passes the magnet test but weighs near 2.70 grams is something other than a bronze cent — possibly a non-magnetic plated substitute, possibly a cast copy in a light alloy. A coin that weighs near 3.11 grams and does not respond to a magnet is bronze, and the question becomes whether the date is genuine. Use a scale that reads to hundredths of a gram and calibrate it first. Wear removes a small amount of weight from a circulated coin; a genuine bronze cent that has circulated heavily may read slightly under standard, but it will not read anywhere near the steel weight.
Test three: the shape of the 3
A bronze 1943 cent that passes both tests above is either genuine or an altered 1948. The alteration removes part of the 8's lower loop to leave a shape resembling a 3, and it leaves evidence. On a genuine 1943, the 3's lower curve extends below the baseline of the other digits, with a long, pointed tail; this is the characteristic of the date font that year. On an altered 1948, the remaining shape of the 8 has a rounded, shorter lower curve, because it was a closed loop, and the alteration shows tool marks under magnification: fine scratches, a flat or scooped area where metal was removed, and disturbed surfaces around the digit that do not match the rest of the date.
Compare to a certified 1943 steel cent, which has the same date font. If the 3 on the suspect coin does not match the 3 on the steel cent in shape and in the length of its tail, the date has been altered. This comparison is the single most useful thing a collector can do at home, and it costs nothing.
Other fakes
Cast copies are made by molding a genuine coin and casting a copy. They show a grainy surface under magnification, soft detail, sometimes a seam on the edge, and often incorrect weight. Altered 1945 and 1949 cents are less common than altered 1948s because the 5 and 9 are harder to reshape, but they exist, and the same tool-mark and font-comparison tests apply. Non-magnetic plated substitutes — a bronze-colored coating over a non-steel base — fail the weight test.
| Suspect | Magnet | Weight | Date shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plated steel 1943 | Sticks | Near 2.70 g | Correct font |
| Altered 1948 | No | Near 3.11 g | Rounded short 3, tool marks |
| Cast copy | Usually no | Often wrong | Soft, grainy |
| Genuine 1943 bronze | No | Near 3.11 g | Long-tailed 3, no tool marks |
What to do with a coin that passes every test
Do not clean it. Do not sell it raw. Do not post it with your address. Photograph it thoroughly, including the full edge, and submit it to PCGS or NGC with an honest declared value based on the fame of the coin. The services have examined every genuine example and every known fake, and their opinion is the only one the market accepts. If the coin is genuine, certification will make it one of the best-documented coins you will ever own. If it is not, you will learn which fake it is, which is itself worth knowing.
Error coin grading and certification covers submission. Why color does not prove wrong metal is the broader principle this page is a special case of.
The 1944 steel cent
The reverse error also exists: 1944 cents struck on leftover steel planchets. The tests invert. A 1944 cent that sticks to a magnet and weighs near 2.70 grams is a candidate; a 1944 cent that does not stick is a normal bronze cent, whatever its color. The same fakes exist — plated bronze cents, altered dates — and the same method resolves them.
Certified examples of the fakes are instructive too. Search and compare what the services have labeled as plated or altered.
Frequently asked questions
My 1943 penny is copper colored. Is it rare?
Almost certainly not. Test it with a magnet. If it sticks, it is a plated steel cent. If it does not, weigh it and compare the 3 to a steel cent's date. Nearly all copper-colored 1943 cents are plated steel or altered 1948s.
How much does a genuine 1943 copper cent weigh?
A bronze cent weighs 3.11 grams; a steel cent weighs 2.70 grams. Use a calibrated scale reading to hundredths.
What does an altered 1948 look like?
The 3 has a short, rounded lower curve because it was the loop of an 8, and there are tool marks around the digit. A genuine 1943's 3 has a long pointed tail extending below the baseline.
Should I get it certified?
If it passes the magnet, weight, and date tests, yes, at PCGS or NGC. Their opinion is the only one the market accepts for this coin.