A Forgotten Coin in an Old Shed Drawer Turned Into a Life-Changing Discovery for One Teenager. This was substantiated when recently a Teen Finds WWII-Era Penny Worth a Fortune in Old Shed Drawer.
Teen Finds WWII-Era Penny Worth a Fortune in Old Shed Drawer
In a small Pennsylvania town, a 16-year-old’s curiosity while cleaning out his late grandfather’s shed led to the astonishing discovery of a WWII-era penny now valued at nearly $850,000. The coin—an ultra-rare 1943 Lincoln Wheat Penny made of bronze instead of steel—had been sitting untouched for decades in an old cigar box, mistaken for a common relic of the past.
The Unexpected Discovery in a Forgotten Drawer
The teen, helping his family clean and organize their property after his grandfather passed, found a rusted metal drawer filled with old keys, tools, and loose change. Among the coins was a dull brown penny that looked different from the usual silver-colored 1943 cents.
He showed the coin to his history teacher, who immediately suspected it could be something special. After contacting a coin expert, it was verified as a 1943 Bronze Lincoln Wheat Penny—one of the most elusive and valuable coins in American coin collecting.
Why the 1943 Bronze Penny Is So Valuable
During World War II, the U.S. Mint stopped using copper to make pennies so the material could be redirected to the war effort. As a result, most 1943 Lincoln cents were made from zinc-coated steel and have a silver appearance.
However, a few copper planchets (blanks) from 1942 remained in the machinery by accident and were used to strike pennies in early 1943. Only around 20 such bronze pennies are known to exist today.
What makes this teen’s find even more remarkable is:
- Material: Bronze (95% copper)
- Weight: 3.11 grams (vs. 2.7g for steel)
- Condition: Excellent, with minimal wear
- Mint Mark: None (struck at Philadelphia Mint)
- Authentication: Certified by PCGS with a high grade
Bronze vs. Steel: How to Tell the Difference
If you have a 1943 penny and want to know if it might be valuable, here’s how to check:
| Feature | Steel 1943 Penny | Bronze 1943 Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Silver-gray | Reddish-brown |
| Magnetic | Yes | No |
| Weight | 2.7 grams | 3.11 grams |
| Surface | Zinc-coated | Copper alloy |
| Value | $0.10 to $1 | $100,000 to $1 million+ |
Pro Tip: Use a magnet. If the 1943 penny sticks, it’s steel. If not, you may have struck copper gold.
From Shed to Spotlight
Once authenticated, the family decided to place the coin up for auction. Bidding surpassed all expectations, and it eventually sold for $840,750 to a private collector with a passion for wartime coins. The teen has reportedly used the proceeds to establish a college fund and donate a portion to a veterans’ charity in his grandfather’s honor.
The story has since been featured in local and national news, drawing attention to the world of coin collecting and reminding everyone that history can hide in the most unexpected places.
A Wake-Up Call for Coin Collectors and the Curious
This story has reinvigorated interest in rare U.S. coins, particularly wartime issues and mint errors. Collectors, parents, and young hobbyists are checking their old jars and drawers for copper-toned 1943 pennies in hopes of uncovering a similar treasure.
If you find an odd-colored coin:
- Don’t clean it
- Weigh and magnet-test it
- Seek expert appraisal before selling or discarding it
Thanks for reading this article with us—sometimes, treasures aren’t buried underground, but waiting quietly in the back of an old drawer, just waiting to be rediscovered.