1982 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Philadelphia, no letter | 10,712,525,000 | Face value |
| 1982-D | Denver | 6,012,979,368 | Face value |
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1982-D copper small date
$10,000 or more
A small-date Denver cent on a copper (3.1 g) blank. Denver small dates should be zinc. Very rare.
Listed for 1982-D.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
1982 copper or zinc, large or small date
In 1982, cents were minted in both copper (3.1 g) and copper-plated zinc (2.5 g), each with a large and a small date. Weigh it to tell them apart.
Listed for 1982.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
The 1982 cent is unusual because it was made in two metals. Cents were copper up to 1982 and copper-plated zinc from 1983. In 1982 both were made, and each came with a large date and a small date. That is why people search for this year.
How to tell
Check your coin in this order:
- Read the date. Make sure it says 1982.
- Find the mint mark. A D means Denver. No mint mark means Philadelphia, but West Point also made cents without a mint mark this year.
- Look at the date style. Each 1982 cent comes as a large date or a small date. Set a few 1982 cents side by side, and the difference in the digits is easy to see.
- Weigh the coin. This is the step that matters most. A copper cent is heavier than a zinc one, and you cannot tell them apart reliably by eye. Use a jeweler's or pocket digital scale that reads to a tenth of a gram. A kitchen or postal scale is not precise enough.
Weigh your 1982 cent next to two coins you can trust. A cent dated 1981 or earlier is copper. A cent dated 1983 or later is copper-plated zinc. Put each on the same scale. If your 1982 cent reads the same as the older copper cent, it is copper. If it reads the same as the newer cent, it is zinc.
The common 1982 cents
1982 was a huge year for the cent. The cents with no mint mark, from Philadelphia and West Point, are common and worth face value, and so are almost all Denver cents.
The four combinations of copper or zinc and large or small date all belong to this common year. A copper cent may feel different in your hand, but the metal alone does not make it rare.
The rare one: 1982-D copper small date
The 1982-D small date is the one to look for. Denver small dates should be zinc, so a small-date Denver cent on a copper blank is a very rare mistake.
Confirm the D mint mark and the small date, then weigh the coin as described above. If it reads like the copper cent, set it aside. A genuine one is worth $10,000 or more, and its condition decides how much more. Most coins you weigh will turn out to be zinc, so do not be disappointed if yours is.
Condition
Wear lowers the value of any coin. A cent that has spent decades in pockets and cash registers shows flattened details and a dull surface. A sharp coin with clear details is worth more than a worn one.
Do not clean your coin. Rubbing, polishing or using chemicals leaves marks and lowers its value. If you are unsure about a coin, leave it as it is.
Other cents to check
The Lincoln Memorial cent ran from 1959 to 2008, and other years have their own varieties. See the 1969 cent and the 1972 cent for doubled dates and lettering, and the 1992 cent for the A and M in AMERICA that almost touch. The 1983 cent is the first year of copper-plated zinc only. For the whole series, see Lincoln Memorial penny values or all Lincoln cents.
Metal value
- Both alloys were minted in 1982, so the metal value depends on which one the coin is. Weigh it on a scale that reads to a tenth of a gram (a jeweler's or pocket digital scale; a kitchen or postal scale is not precise enough): 3.11 g is copper, 2.5 g is zinc.
Questions
Is a copper 1982 penny worth more than a zinc one?
For most 1982 cents, no. Both are common and worth face value. Copper matters mainly on the 1982-D small date, where it is a very rare mistake.
Why do I need a scale?
Both metals were used in 1982, and each has a large and a small date. Color and date style alone cannot tell you the metal. Weight can.
Is my 1982 penny with no mint mark rare?
No. A cent with no mint mark is common. Philadelphia made them, and so did West Point.
Should I clean my penny before selling it?
No. Cleaning a coin lowers its value. Leave it as you found it.
More Lincoln cents to check
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