a conversation with an american 1943 copper small cent

I collected coins as a hobby when I was a kid. Seriously. I bought guides to coin values, frequented coin shops, and assembled a respectable collection.

Once I visited a big coin show. As I walked around from booth to booth, looking at the displays of coins and bills from various eras of history, I saw one particular table attracting a great deal of attention. As I made my way up to the table, I saw what all the hubbub was about. A great celebrity was in the building.

I looked at him in awe, amazed that I was so close to him. Finally, I summoned my courage and said, "It's... It's you, isn't it? You're a 1943 copper penny!"

The penny sighed and mumbled, "Yes, that's me."

I couldn't believe it. Here I was having a conversation with one of the rare numismatic treasures! You see, in the 1940s the US suffered shortages of various metals, especially copper, because of World War II. To help the war effort, pennies were made from steel in 1943, then a copper-clad mixture from 1944 to 1946 after it was discovered that the steel coins rusted out very quickly.

However, a handful of copper pennies made in 1943 are known to exist, the product of an error where the old copper planchets were used by accident. Only about twelve copper pennies dated 1943 are confirmed to exist, and here I had to chance to meet one! I geeked out a little bit.

I could tell that this penny was annoyed, however. "What's wrong?" I asked. "I mean, I'm sorry if I offended you or anything..."

"Oh, no, no, no," the exasperated small cent replied. "It's just that you coin collectors don't get what my life is really like."

"Really?" I inquired. "Well, tell me then!"

The penny took another long breath. "Look, buddy," he began, "I'm a coin. I was made to be spent. I'm no mint set proof or commemorative, I'm just a penny! I was made to go in cash registers and gumball machines. Instead, I've spent about seven decades locked in a display case."

I was surprised at the penny's attitude. "But you're so valuable!" I protested. "At mint value you're worth hundreds of thousand of dollars!"

The penny scoffed. "So what?" he growled. "So I can sit around all day? No, no, I'd much rather be carried in someone's pocket or wallet, counted out in change at a store, rolled up with other coins at a bank... that's what I was made for!"

I thought about his words for a moment. "OK, I see what you're saying," I offered, "but you're pretty much set for life. Other pennies will get lost under counters and dressers, trapped in jars of change for years, and so on! I mean, no offense, but pennies aren't exactly the most valued of coins, especially today. Collectors respect you! Most pennies get no respect at all!"

The small center dropped his eyes, obviously frustrated. "You just don't get it..." he muttered. "I'd be fine being lost in a gutter or dropped in an alley if I'd had the chance to really be used for once. Look through the change in your pocket," he demanded. "Do it now!"

Somewhat awkwardly, I rummaged through my pocket and produced two pennies and nickel: 1991, 2004, and 1973. "None of these are as old as you," I pointed out. "You almost never see wheat pennies of any kind in change anymore."

"That's beside the point!" he yelled, startling me. "These coins have been circulating for years! Sure, they'll probably be lost at one point, maybe even beat up or smelt down. But they get the chance to be real money, and that's all a real coin could ever hope for."

I had nothing else to say. Sheepishly, I shuffled my weight and said, "Well, I'm sorry that you don't have the chance to be spent. I can see how hard that would be for a coin. Can I do anything for you?"

"No, no..." the penny replied. "This is my life, and I have to deal with it. Just promise me one thing: Don't let yourself get locked away like me. Just continue circulating as long as you can."

I wasn't sure what he meant, but I thought there might be some odd wisdom there, so I nodded and took my leave. I spent a few more minutes at the coin show, then bought a snack at the concession stand: $1.07. I paid exact change with the coins in my pocket, allowing them to continue their journeys.