This Rare US Coin Is Worth $840K & You'll Want To Check Your Wallet For It

If you have ever needed a reason to clean out the couch or organize your coin purse, this super rare U.S. coin worth thousands of dollars would probably be it.

Printed roughly 80 years ago, a certain version of the 1943 penny has been called "one of the most sought-after" coins among American collectors, so much so that one was bought at a 2021 auction for a staggering $840,000.

"Coin experts speculate that they were struck by accident when copper–alloy 1–cent blanks remained in the press hopper when production began on the new steel pennies," the United States Mint states.

Sources say only about 40 of these pricey pennies produced out of the Denver Mint are known to remain in existence, so there are a few things to look for if you happen to find a penny with a 1943 date.

Since the valuable 1943 pennies were made from an alloy of copper, which differed from the steel pennies that were produced the same year, it's simple to find if yours is worth more than one cent.

The U.S. Mint suggests using a magnet. If the penny doesn't stick to it, you might be in luck because it's probably copper and, therefore, should be authenticated by an expert.

If you struck out and your 1943 penny isn't rare, worry not!

There are still plenty of other valuable U.S. coins that are worth so much more than their original value that you could have found during your search for this one. Take a look at the list here!