A Regular Day Turns Extraordinary
In St. Louis, Missouri, a normal afternoon at the park became a day to remember for seven-year-old Emily Thompson and her family. Emily was playing in the sandbox at Maplewood City Park when she noticed a dull, dirty coin buried in the sand. Thinking it was just an old penny, she decided to put it in her pocket and show her parents later.
That small, curious action changed everything for the Thompson family. What looked like a simple piece of metal from the playground turned out to be a super rare Lincoln penny worth an incredible $100,000.
A Penny Worth a Fortune
Emily showed the coin to her father, James Thompson, when the family returned home. He thought the penny looked unusual and older than normal. Together, they cleaned it gently with water and noticed the year stamped on it: 1943.
Wondering if the year made it special, James searched online and found that some 1943 Lincoln pennies are extremely valuable. Most pennies from that year are made from steel because the country needed copper for World War II. But a few were accidentally made from copper, and those are worth a lot of money.
The family took the penny to a local coin shop, where an expert used a magnifying glass and special tools to check the coin. The expert confirmed it was one of the rare 1943 copper Lincoln pennies—a mistake made at the mint that year, making the coin very valuable to collectors.
What Makes the 1943 Copper Penny So Special?
Most pennies from 1943 were made from steel and coated in zinc, giving them a silver look instead of the usual copper color. Only a small number were made using copper by accident. This mistake happened because some copper blanks from 1942 were left in the machines when production started in 1943.
Collectible coin experts say that only about 20 to 40 of these copper pennies are known to exist today. This is why collectors are willing to pay so much for them.
Here is a table showing the difference in penny values from 1943:
| Penny Type | Usual Value | Special Value for Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Steel Penny | 1 cent | $1 (in top condition) |
| Copper Penny | 1 cent | Up to $100,000 or more |
Community Excitement and Next Steps
After local news spread the story, Maplewood City Park became popular overnight. Families visited the park, hoping to find a lucky coin of their own. Local businesses offered Emily free treats, and the playground was cleaned up and checked for other hidden treasures.
The Thompson family plans to auction the coin at a big collectible coin event later this year. They say they will use the money to pay for Emily’s college and help with community projects. Emily herself says she still enjoys playing in the sand, but now she always checks her pockets before heading home.
Families now
teach their kids to look carefully at old coins
visit playgrounds together to treasure hunt
ask local experts about rare coins in their collection
A Simple Game, a Life-Changing Discovery
For Emily and her family, an ordinary day at the park will never be the same. Their story proves that sometimes, great things happen when you least expect them. The next time you see an old coin in the sand, it may be worth taking a closer look—you could discover your very own hidden treasure.