1983 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Philadelphia, no letter | 7,752,355,000 | Face value |
| 1983-D | Denver | 6,467,199,428 | Face value |
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Scan your coinIs yours the 1983 doubled die (back)?
1983 doubled die (back)
$400
The stamp (die) for the back had a doubled image. ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are doubled.
Listed for 1983.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
Both the 1983 and the 1983-D were made in huge numbers, so a normal one is common. Before you spend a 1983 cent with no mint mark, turn it over and check the back.
How to tell
- Check the date. Look for 1983 on the front.
- Check the mint mark. A 1983-D has the D mint mark. A cent with no mint mark is the one that can carry the doubled die.
- Turn the coin over. Look at the back, where the Lincoln Memorial sits.
- Study the lettering. On the doubled die, ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA all look doubled. A magnifying glass helps.
- Compare with a normal cent. If the letters look sharp and single, you have a regular coin.
The 1983 doubled die reverse
On this variety, the die used to stamp the back had a doubled image. That is why ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appear doubled on the finished coin.
Price guides list it at $400 for a coin that never spent time in pockets or registers. A worn one is worth less, and a coin's own condition decides what it sells for.
Be careful before you get excited. Some coins show look-alike doubling from wear or damage, and those are worth only face value. If your coin seems to match, a dealer or a professional grading service such as PCGS or NGC can tell you whether the doubling is real.
Copper or zinc?
Cents were copper up to 1982 and copper-plated zinc from 1983. So a 1983 cent is copper-plated zinc, not a copper cent, and saving these for their metal does not make sense.
The copper question matters more for 1982, when both kinds were made. For that year you can weigh the coin to tell them apart. See the 1982 Lincoln Memorial penny guide for details.
Other cents worth a look
If you are going through a jar of Lincoln Memorial cents, a few other years have valuable varieties: a doubled date and lettering on 1969-S and 1972 cents, a second earlobe on a 1984, and a 1992 cent whose A and M in AMERICA almost touch.
- 1969 Lincoln Memorial penny
- 1972 Lincoln Memorial penny
- 1992 Lincoln Memorial penny
- All Lincoln Memorial penny values
- All Lincoln cent values
Condition
Wear lowers the value of any coin. A cent that circulated for years will show flattened lettering, and that can hide or erase doubling. Do not clean a coin you think might be special. Cleaning lowers its value.
Metal value
- $0.01 for copper-plated zinc (97.5% zinc core, 2.5 g)
Questions
Is a 1983 penny worth anything?
Most are worth face value. The exception is the doubled die reverse, and a worn one is worth less than an uncirculated one.
Is a 1983 penny made of copper?
No. It is copper-plated zinc. Copper cents run up to 1982, and both kinds were made in 1982.
Is the 1983-D penny valuable?
A normal 1983-D is common and worth face value. The doubled die reverse is listed under the 1983 cent with no mint mark, not the D.
How do I know if my doubling is real?
Look at ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the back. If all three look doubled, have the coin checked by a dealer or a grading service before you count on a value.
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