Most 1944 Lincoln pennies were made of copper, but a few rare ones were mistakenly struck on steel planchets left over from 1943 wartime production.
Only a handful of these 1944 steel pennies exist, making them extremely rare and highly coveted by collectors.
In 2021, one of these rare 1944 steel Lincoln cents sold at auction for an astounding $408,000.
During the transition back to copper, some leftover steel blanks accidentally got used, leading to this rare minting error.
The $408,000 penny was graded MS66 by PCGS, meaning it was in nearly perfect condition, boosting its value even further.
Coin collectors prize error coins like this, especially when tied to historic periods like World War II.
A genuine 1944 steel penny will stick to a magnet, unlike normal 1944 copper pennies — but beware of fakes!