I have a 1943 D copper penny

It looks like the "D" is not in the same position under the 9 & 4

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The dies were set for striking the harder steel composition. On a copper planchet the rims, VDB, and detail edges should be very sharp and crisp. That does not appear to be the case with your coin.

 

Doesn't mean anything. If a second 43 D copper cent did show up it would almost certainly be from a different die pair.

 

There seems to be more than 5 versions of the 43-D copper Lincoln on Alliexpress from China lacking the 'copy' stamping. A lot depends on exactly how you got it and when, and only you know that. No use to spend $100 or more for TPG if you bought in in at a swap meet, gun show, or from someone who frequents such.

 

One thing I noticed on Alliexpress was that the copies mostly say "Casting" and all but one say copper with one brass. You might find casting marks on the edge under microscopic examination. Just a thought.
https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/...ative_id=SB_20180528085359&isViewCP=y&catId=0

 

If the inputs here still leave you questioning the coin, then send it in for authentication. Yes, you will pay the fee, but the expert input will be final.

 

It weighed 3.28

 

I found it in a jar of pennies I had been saving for years

 

3.28

 

It weighed 3.28

 

send it in to NGC or PCGS. The cost will be high if its a real coin......the odds are against you however.

 

Also report back if you do. All the time people claim to have really rare pieces only to “send it off for authentication” and never return to the board. Coincidence? I think not.

 

(From Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943_steel_cent#cite_note-Metras-6

The copper cents differ from their steel counterparts in four ways:

• Genuine 1943 copper cents will not be attracted to a magnet.[6]
• Copper-plated steel cents will exhibit a strong magnetic attraction.
• Copper cents weigh 3.11 grams. Steel cents weigh 2.70 grams.[6]
• The numeral 3 in 1943 has the same long tail as the steel cents. Alterations from later-dated copper cents will be noticeable when compared side-by-side with genuine steel cents.[6]
• The quality of the strike is exceptionally sharp, especially around the rim, because the soft copper planchets were struck with the same (higher) pressure used for the steel cents

The weight seems to be beyond the upper tolerance of +0.13 g. (= 3.24 g.)

 

I probably wouldn't send it in if I was sure it was then I would.

 

I really just wish I could show it to someone, I'm afraid to send it anywhere

 

but really it is most likely a fake since there isn't many out there

 

I've been collecting wheat pennies for 38 years and I did find a 1943 copper fake coin once before this one is just so questionable, I honestly can't find anything about it that looks suspicious except for the condition

 

Plenty of good looking fakes. I just did a quick search of a few chinese websites and found several.

 

yep