Hi everyone. I have recently acquired a 1943-S lincoln cent that does not stick to a magnet and has no clear indication that the date has been fabricated in any way. I have come here in search of your opinions. I have posted a few photos below. Sorry for the lighting. They were taken through a magnifying lens. The penny weighs exactly 3.11 grams. Please give your opinions on its possible authenticity, and is it worth it to have the coin graded? Thank you
Based upon the pieces I've handled and authenticated, your's in a struck counterfeit. The obv. of the coin doesn't look right - (the weight isn't a confirmation point - there are thousands of 3.1 copper planchets available to struck counterfeits on. Before you submit it to PCGS or NGC and spend upwards of $100+ on it, can you take it to a coin shop in your town and ask them to look at it? They might - might - be able to see and point out to you any raised lines or marks on the coin that would show it's from counterfeit dies. How did you acquire it?
The obv. rims don't look right, especially how they enter the field of the coin. I'm certain, based on the photos, that it's not genuine.
Hi.. The 3 is one of the first things that I look at. But it is not that. This might help explain a bit I want to share this webpage with you - https://www.thespruce.com/genuine-or-fake-1943-copper-penny-768883 Quote - "Chinese Counterfeit Coins There are some high-quality counterfeit coins that are being manufactured in China. These are made to resemble a genuine 1943 Lincoln cent, but the Chinese counterfeiters use copper blanks. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to tell the difference between a genuine 1943 copper penny and a Chinese counterfeit. Fortunately, Lincoln cent experts at third party grading services can tell the difference by closely inspecting the coin under a stereo microscope." closed quote
Beautiful detective work Tyler! It even has the same weird slope to the rim at the top. Must be a common reverse die they use.
Also notice they have the same die gouge at the bottom of the reverse. It runs WNW from the rim and is under the tip of the left wheat stem. Both coins were definitely struck from the same reverse die. Stupid counterfeits! Hate it for the OP.
