In a quiet town in Ohio, a 10-year-old boy named Ethan Turner made an amazing discovery. He was going through an old jar of coins at home, looking for ideas for a school project. Inside, he found what looked like a regular Lincoln penny. But it was not an ordinary coin.
School Project Turns Into a Big Surprise
Ethan was doing a school project on U.S. money. He decided to use his grandfather’s old coin jar to help with his research. As he sorted the coins, he noticed a penny that looked different. It was a 1943 penny made of copper, not steel like most pennies from that year.
Why This Penny Is So Rare
During World War II, the U.S. stopped using copper for pennies to save it for the war. Instead, pennies in 1943 were made of zinc-coated steel. But a few copper coins were made by mistake. These rare 1943 copper pennies are now very valuable. Only a small number are known to exist.
A Quick Trip to the Coin Shop
Ethan showed the strange penny to his dad. His father thought it might be rare and took it to a local coin expert. The dealer confirmed it was a real 1943 copper Lincoln penny. This small coin is one of the rarest in the U.S. It was later checked and graded by professionals to confirm its value.
From a Jar to a Million-Dollar Auction
Once the coin was confirmed to be real, the family decided to sell it at auction. Many collectors from around the world wanted it. The final selling price was $1.75 million. The Turners could hardly believe it. A dusty old penny had just changed their lives.
How Life Changed for the Turner Family
With the money, the Turner family paid off their home loan. They also saved money for Ethan’s future college education. On top of that, they gave some of the money to local charities. Ethan’s mom said they were very thankful for the blessing. What started as a school project became something much bigger.
Ethan’s New Hobby
After finding such a rare coin, Ethan became more interested in collecting coins. He now enjoys searching for rare coins in his free time. His story shows that even small things can lead to big surprises.
FAQs
What year was the rare penny found by Ethan?
1943.
What was special about the penny?
It was made of copper, not steel.
How much did the penny sell for?
$1.75 million.
Where did Ethan find the penny
In an old coin jar at home.
What did the family do with the money?
Paid debts, saved for college, and donated to charity.
