1943-S 青铜林肯美分：美国钱币史上的惊人异常

1943 年的青铜林肯美分硬币是美国钱币史上的一个惊人的异类，其迷人的背景故事继续吸引着收藏家。

The 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent is a stunning anomaly in American numismatic history, with a fascinating backstory that continues to captivate collectors. Its rarity and the legendary tales surrounding its discovery make it one of the most highly sought-after coins in the world. Known for its unique composition and historical significance, this coin stands out in the world of numismatics, with one example having sold for a staggering $504,000.

1943 年的青铜林肯美分硬币是美国钱币史上的一个惊人的异类，其迷人的背景故事继续吸引着收藏家。它的稀有性和围绕其发现的传奇故事使其成为世界上最受欢迎的硬币之一。这枚硬币以其独特的成分和历史意义而闻名，在钱币学界中脱颖而出，其中一枚的售价高达 504,000 美元。

Historical Context: The Impact of World War II

历史背景：第二次世界大战的影响

During World War II, copper became an essential resource for the war effort, used primarily in munitions and communication equipment. As a result, the U.S. Treasury Department ordered that the 1943 Lincoln cents be struck using zinc-coated steel planchets instead of the usual bronze composition. This change was designed to conserve copper for more critical military purposes.

第二次世界大战期间，铜成为战争的重要资源，主要用于弹药和通讯设备。因此，美国财政部下令使用镀锌钢坯铸造 1943 年林肯美分，而不是通常的青铜成分。这一变化旨在节省铜用于更关键的军事用途。

The U.S. Mint produced over a billion steel pennies that year, with the San Francisco Mint alone striking more than 191 million of these steel cents. However, an interesting mistake occurred—some bronze planchets, originally meant for 1942 production, remained in the Mint’s supply bins. These planchets were mixed with the steel planchets and struck as 1943-dated coins, leading to the accidental creation of the famous 1943 bronze cents.

美国造币厂当年生产了超过 10 亿枚钢制美分，仅旧金山造币厂就铸造了超过 1.91 亿枚钢制美分。然而，一个有趣的错误发生了——一些原本打算 1942 年生产的青铜板坯仍然留在造币厂的供应箱中。这些钱币与钢币混合在一起铸造成 1943 年的硬币，从而意外地创造出了著名的 1943 年青铜美分。

The Discovery of the 1943-S Bronze Cent

1943-S 青铜美分的发现

The discovery of the 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. It wasn’t long before rumors began circulating that anyone who found one of these rare “copper” cents would be rewarded with a new car, allegedly from Henry Ford himself—though the Ford Motor Company denied these rumors. This myth only fueled the excitement among collectors, who scoured their coin rolls in search of these elusive coins.

1943 年的青铜林肯美分硬币的发现充满了神秘和阴谋。不久之后，谣言开始流传，任何发现这些稀有“铜”美分的人都将获得一辆新车，据称是亨利·福特本人的——尽管福特汽车公司否认了这些谣言。这个神话只会激起收藏家的兴奋，他们在钱币卷中搜寻这些难以捉摸的硬币。

The first confirmed discovery of a 1943-S bronze cent occurred in 1944 when Kenneth Wing, Jr., a teenage collector from Long Beach, California, found one in circulation. The coin became part of numismatic history, and over the years, it changed hands several times, eventually becoming part of the esteemed Simpson Collection.

1944 年，加利福尼亚州长滩的一位青少年收藏家小肯尼思·温 (Kenneth Wing, Jr.) 发现了一枚正在流通的 1943-S 青铜美分，这一发现首次得到证实。这枚硬币成为钱币历史的一部分，多年来，它多次转手，最终成为受人尊敬的辛普森收藏的一部分。

A Coin Worth a Fortune

一枚价值连城的硬币

The 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent is not just valuable for its historical significance, but also for its rarity. Only six verified examples exist, making it one of the rarest coins in the world. One particular example, graded MS63 Brown by PCGS and approved by CAC, is considered the finest-known of this error coin. This coin is a centerpiece of the Simpson Collection and has a rich history that includes several high-profile transactions.

1943-S 青铜林肯美分硬币的价值不仅在于其历史意义，还在于其稀有性。仅存六枚经过验证的硬币，使其成为世界上最稀有的硬币之一。其中一个特别的例子，由 PCGS 评级为 MS63 棕色，并经 CAC 批准，被认为是这种错误硬币中最著名的。这枚硬币是辛普森收藏的核心作品，拥有丰富的历史，其中包括多次备受瞩目的交易。

In 2012, Bob Simpson, a prominent numismatist, acquired this coin for a record-breaking $1 million in a private transaction. The coin has since become a key piece in Simpson’s All-Time Finest PCGS Registry Set of Lincoln Cents Off-Metal Strikes. Its impressive condition, with sharp design details and traces of original red color, adds to its appeal among collectors.

2012 年，著名钱币学家鲍勃·辛普森 (Bob Simpson) 在一次私人交易中以破纪录的 100 万美元收购了这枚硬币。此后，这枚硬币成为辛普森 (Simpson) 有史以来最精美的 PCGS 注册林肯美分非金属硬币套装中的关键部件。其令人印象深刻的状况、鲜明的设计细节和原始红色的痕迹，增加了它在收藏家中的吸引力。

The Unique Characteristics of the 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Cent

1943-S 青铜林肯美分的独特特征

What sets the 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent apart from other coins is its distinctive features. The coin’s obverse displays sharp design details, with intricate features on Lincoln’s hair and the wheat stalks. The surface of the coin shows a light brown and crimson patina, with traces of the original red visible in sheltered areas. The coin also bears a tiny fleck of zinc from the steel cents that were mistakenly mixed with the bronze planchets, further enhancing its uniqueness.

1943-S 青铜林肯美分与其他硬币的区别在于其独特的特征。硬币的正面显示出清晰的设计细节，林肯的头发和麦秆上有复杂的特征。钱币表面呈现浅棕色和深红色的铜绿，在受遮蔽的地方可以看到原来的红色痕迹。这枚硬币上还含有钢制美分的微小锌斑，这些锌被错误地与青铜铸币混合在一起，进一步增强了其独特性。

This particular coin has been listed among the 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins and has been widely depicted on PCGS CoinFacts, cementing its status as one of the most celebrated errors in numismatic history.

这枚特殊的硬币已被列为美国 100 枚最严重错误硬币之一，并在 PCGS CoinFacts 上得到广泛描述，巩固了其作为钱币历史上最著名的错误之一的地位。

Other Notable 1943-S Bronze Cents

其他著名 1943-S 青铜美分

While the MS63 Brown example is the most famous, several other verified examples of the 1943-S bronze cent exist, each with its own fascinating history. Some of the notable pieces include:

虽然 MS63 布朗币的例子是最著名的，但还有其他几个经过验证的 1943-S 青铜分币例子，每一个都有其迷人的历史。一些值得注意的作品包括：

Conclusion: The Allure of the 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Cent

结论：1943-S 青铜林肯美分的魅力

The 1943-S bronze Lincoln cent remains one of the most fascinating and valuable coins in American numismatics. Its rarity, historical significance, and the mystery surrounding its discovery have solidified its place in numismatic lore. Whether it’s the coin’s accidental creation during a time of war or its later status as a coveted treasure among collectors, the 1943-S bronze cent continues to be a symbol of the allure of rare and valuable coins. With only six verified examples in existence, this coin will undoubtedly remain one of the most sought-after treasures in the numismatic world for years to come.

1943-S 青铜林肯美分硬币至今仍是美国钱币学领域最迷人、最有价值的硬币之一。它的稀有性、历史意义以及围绕其发现的神秘性巩固了它在钱币传说中的地位。无论是这枚硬币在战争时期的偶然创造，还是后来成为收藏家梦寐以求的珍品，1943-S 青铜美分硬币始终是稀有且有价值的硬币魅力的象征。由于仅有六枚经过验证的硬币，这枚硬币无疑将在未来几年内仍然是钱币世界中最受欢迎的珍品之一。