Is a 1943 copper penny rare?

Yes, only about 1 to 2 dozen were struck in error, using blanks intended for 1942 copper cents. Prices range from $35,000 to nearly a quarter of a million.

However don't start looking through your change. None has been found in circulation in decades and it's believed that all have been accounted for. There are however zillions of counterfeits made by either plating a steel 1943 cent or altering a 1948 coin by shaving off the left side of the "8".