Finding a rare penny in your change is a little like winning the lottery. If you're reading this article, you probably found a 1941 silver penny and want to know more about it.
It's Not Silver, But What Is It?
We're sorry to disappoint you, but the United States Mint never made any silver one cent pieces. However, the US Mint has:
accidentally made pennies from metal intended for dimes
forgotten to plate the newer pennies with copper
used different metals for pennies
For some avid coin collectors, these unusual coins are worth more than the average penny. For a lucky few, very rare coins can be worth thousands of dollars.
Sadly, not all silver colored pennies are worth more the norm. They may be silver colored from the result of science experiments. Or, they could just be plated with a silver metal for novelty purposes.
Is It Really A 1941 Penny Or Was It Altered?
Zinc and steel pennies were not made in 1941. If you have a 1941 silver colored penny, double-check the date. If you're sure that the date reads 1941, then the date may be a damaged or altered 1943 penny.
If the penny is attracted to a magnet, it is probably made of zinc and steel. Normal pennies are not magnetic.
Pennies can be plated with silver metal or made to look silver. Some of these are deliberate deceptions, and some are just the results of chemistry projects and novelty jewelry. Altering a coin decreases its value.
Chemistry experiments that change pennies by altering the copper, removing the copper, or covering the copper with another metal are fairly common.
The average 1941 penny should weigh no more than 3.11 grams. Any penny heavier than that is probably covered with an extra layer of metal.
A word of warning -- mercury is a dangerous metal that people sometimes coat pennies with. If you suspect that you may have a mercury-plated penny, handle it with care and wash your hands after.
How Can You Be Sure?
If you've checked the penny's date and weight, and still have questions, then it's time to see an expert. A metallurgist can check a penny for chemical alterations. Coins that are thought to be rare should be authenticated by experts.
There are many rare coins that collectors will pay well over face value to own. Unfortunately, a silver colored penny from 1941 isn't one of them.
If still think you have something genuine, then by all means, take it to a coin expert or two. On the rare chance that it’s real, then you've won the coin lottery.
Image Source Flickr user frankieleon
Rarer Pennies After 1941
WWII caused a shortage of the copper and tin used to make pennies, so the US mint experimented by using other metals.
In 1943, they made pennies out of zinc and steel. They are worth around 50 cents each. People complained about a rust problem, so they switched to a brass composition for the rest of the war.
Copper pennies from 1943 are rare and happened by accident. The US Mint uses huge totes to move their coins around. Sometimes a blank from one of the final batches would get stuck in a crevice.
In 1944, the US Mint used copper to produce pennies. The pennies that were stuck in crevices resulted in a few rare coins. Some of the zinc plated steel blanks minted in 1944 occurred due to being in the totes.
At the same time, there were some 1943 pennies that were left in the crevices that were struck on pure copper planchets. These rare copper pennies from 1943 are worth at least thousands of dollars, and one even sold for 1.7 million dollars.
A 1944 zinc and steel penny is another very rare and valuable coin. A 1944 zinc and steel penny is worth around $75,000.
More Pennies Made With The Wrong Metal
Sometimes, the US Mint makes mistakes. Generally, the mistakes are more valuable than the coins that are minted correctly.
The pennies made after 1980 are only copper plated, and sometimes an error causes a silver colored penny without any copper on it. Again, if the date is damaged or altered, it could be one of these errors.
Another possible error is that sometimes the US Mint will accidentally use the wrong metal. If the US Mint accidentally uses the metal used in dimes, it makes the pennies silver in color.
The pennies made from dime planchet are usually missing the rims, and they weigh less than average. These are worth around $300.
Another very remote possibility is that your penny is made from aluminum. In 1974, the US Mint made a number of aluminum pennies to test a new material.
The idea was rejected and most of the pennies were destroyed and never circulated. However, around a few dozen went missing and those have significant value.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway is to do your research when trying to decide if your dimes and pennies are worth something. A mistake on a coin can ramp up its value, while alterations decrease their value. The best thing to do when you are uncertain is to have your coin examined by an expert.