1943 United States Cent Value
The 1943 United States Cent carries a current retail range of about $0.03 to $0.30 across circulated and Mint State grades, and its metal content alone is worth $0.03 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
Melt estimated at 95% copper (US bronze standard).
1943 United States Cent value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $0.03 |
| Good (G-4) | $0.03 to $0.03 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.03 to $0.03 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.03 to $0.04 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $0.04 to $0.05 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $0.05 to $0.07 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $0.08 to $0.12 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $0.22 to $0.30 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
What is the 1943 United States Cent selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1943 United States Cent starts around $0.03. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $0.30. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1943 United States Cent specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1943
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Copper
- Weight
- 2.926 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
Why there is no letter on this coin
The 1943 United States Cent comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1943, that is exactly as it should be.
What makes the 1943 United States Cent valuable
The 1943 United States Cent lacks precise production records, so its value rests on demonstrated rarity: how often examples surface at auction and how they compare to documented specimens.
Context adds the final layer to the 1943 United States Cent. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1943 United States Cent inscriptions & design
Obverse
IN GOD WE TRUST / LIBERTY / (date)
Lincoln bust r., motto top, date l.
Reverse
E PLURIBUS UNUM / ONE CENT / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
two wheat stalks
Measured 1943 United States Cent specimens
9 physically measured 1943 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 2.926 g, 19 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 United States Cent #1 | 2.926 g | - | - | Breen.2163 (fake) |
| 1943 United States Cent #2 | 3.16 g | 20 mm | - | Breen.2165 (fake) |
| 1943 United States Cent #3 | 2.758 g | 19 mm | 6 h | - |
| 1943 United States Cent #4 | - | - | - | Breen.2166 |
| 1943 United States Cent #5 | - | - | - | Breen.2166 |
| 1943 United States Cent #6 | - | 19.1 mm | - | Breen.2166 |
| 1943 United States Cent #7 | - | - | - | Breen.2167 |
| 1943 United States Cent #8 | - | - | - | Breen.2168 |
| 1943 United States Cent #9 | - | 18 mm | - | Breen.2166 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1943 United States Cent is valued between $0.03 and $0.30 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.