Legendary Coins
Soon, legends began to grow about the mythical copper pennies that had gone into circulation in error. “Stories appeared in newspapers, comic books, and magazines and a number of fake copper-plated steel cents were passed off as fabulous rarities to unsuspecting purchasers,” Heritage Auctions wrote.
“Despite the mounting number of reported finds, the Mint steadfastly denied any copper specimens had been struck in 1943.” However, the rumors had gotten the attention of Don Lutes Jr.