A LINCOLN penny worth $336,000 is still in circulation today nearly 80 years after being found.
The 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent is one of the most famous error-coins in history, after a rare few were mistakenly manufactured during World War 2.
It’s a sight to behold for coin enthusiasts, with a bold bust of Abraham Lincoln on the front complete with the expected amount of historical wear and tear.
The gorgeous reddish-brown color adds a tactile texture to the piece.
On the back, the coin reads “ONE CENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.
The history behind it is just as fascinating, according to Heritage Auctions.
The copper used for coining bronze cents was needed for the manufacture of munitions during World War 2, meaning all Lincoln cents were supposed to be struck on zinc-coated steel.
By a stroke of pure chance, some of the old bronze plates remained stuck in the tote bins used to feed the coin presses at the end of 1942.
When coinage began in 1943, this handful of bronze plates became dislodged and fed into the presses, along with millions of the regular-issue “steel” planchets.
This created an unexpected coin error, where only a handful of 1943 bronze Lincoln coins were produced.
