The United States Mint replaced the bronze composition long used in making Lincoln cents with a zinc-coated steel format in 1943. This temporary change was made to help save copper for ammunitions used in fighting alongside the Allied Forces in World War II. The 1943-D steel cents are, like Philadelphia- and San Francisco-minted issues from the same year, very common coins in all circulated grades and in uncirculated levels through MS65. In MS 66, 1943-D Lincoln cents are scarce and in MS67 and MS68 are rare.

In all, more than 1 billion steel cents were struck, and they are commonly sold in sets of three, representing each of the three mints that struck the coins (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco). These sets are especially popular with non-collectors and new collectors, who regard the steel cents as novelties and are often lured into the hobby with the purchase of these inexpensive but attractive three-coin'sets.