A penny worth an estimated $235,000 is now on display in Houston, and experts say it is one of the rarest coins in American history.
U.S. Coins and Jewelry says it acquired a 1943 bronze Lincoln cent, one of an estimated 20 known to exist.
The coin was held by a Houston-area family for more than 60 years before it was recently authenticated by the Professional Coin Grading Service, which graded it “Extra Fine.”
Kenny Duncan of U.S. Coins and Jewelry said the rarity of the coin makes it especially valuable to collectors.
During World War II, most pennies minted in 1943 were made of steel to conserve copper for the war effort. However, a small number of bronze planchets, or coin blanks, were reportedly left in the presses from the previous year, resulting in a limited number of bronze cents.
Duncan said more than a billion steel cents were produced that year, making the discovery of a rare bronze version particularly remarkable.
The coin is now on display at the U.S. Coins and Jewelry showroom along the Katy Freeway.
For collectors and anyone checking their spare change, the discovery is a reminder that an ordinary-looking penny could turn out to be worth far more than one cent.
