In 2015, the estimated value for a 1943 copper wheat penny is roughly between $60,000 and $85,000. If the coin is in poor condition, it is valued toward the lower amount; in perfect condition, it can bring closer to $85,000.
The 1943 copper wheat penny is an extremely rare coin. At the time it was made, almost all pennies were minted using zinc-coated steel because copper and nickel were needed for the World War II effort.
Because the 1943 penny is so valuable, many counterfeits have been made by coating pennies with copper. A simple way to test if it is truly made of copper is to use a magnet. If the penny sticks to the magnet, it is not copper, but a counterfeit coin.
