The Ultimate 1982 Penny Value Guide: Small Date vs. Large Date Varieties

Discover How Your 1982 Penny Could Be Worth $18,800

At PennyVerse.info, we’ve created the most comprehensive guide to 1982 Lincoln cents, including the rare varieties that have sold for up to $18,800. This complete breakdown will help you identify and value every 1982 penny variation.

Understanding the 1982 Penny Transition

1982 was a historic year for U.S. coinage:

• Composition Change: Switched from 95% copper to zinc with copper plating
• Weight Difference: Copper pennies weigh 3.11g vs. zinc’s 2.5g
• Two Distinct Date Styles: Large Date and Small Date varieties exist for both compositions

Key Identification Features

1. Date Size Comparison

• Large Date:
  • Bold, thick numerals
  • “8” has equal-sized loops
  • “1” has flat base
• Small Date:
  • Slim, delicate numerals
  • “8” has smaller top loop
  • “1” has angled base

2. Weight Test (Most Reliable Method)

• Copper (3.11g): Worth 2-10x more than zinc
• Zinc (2.5g): Standard circulation value

3. Mintmark Varieties

• Philadelphia (no mintmark)
• Denver (D)
• San Francisco (S) – Proof only

1982 Penny Value Chart

Variety	Copper	Zinc
Large Date (P)	0.50−0.50−5	Face value
Small Date (P)	5−5−50	1−1−3
Large Date (D)	1−1−10	Face value
Small Date (D)	10−10−100	2−2−5
Proof (S)	3−3−15	1−1−5

The $18,800 Rarity: 1982-D Small Date Copper

This record-setting penny has:

• Small Date variety
• Copper composition (3.11g)
• Full red mint state condition (MS67RD)
• Strong strike on all lettering
• PCGS/CAC certification

Only 5-10 specimens are confirmed to exist in this condition.

How to Find Valuable 1982 Pennies

1. Sorting Method

1. Separate all 1982 pennies
2. Sort by mintmark (P, D)
3. Group by date size
4. Weigh each group

2. Magnification Tips

• Use 10x loupe to examine:
  • Date style
  • “LIBERTY” lettering
  • Wheat stalk details

3. Error Varieties to Spot

• Doubled Dies: Especially on “LIBERTY”
• Off-Center Strikes: Even slight misalignments add value
• Transitional Errors: Copper-plated zinc blanks

Professional Grading Advice

For potentially valuable coins:

1. Photograph both sides under good lighting
2. Weigh precisely (0.01g scale recommended)
3. Compare to known examples
4. Submit to PCGS/NGC if condition appears MS65+

Where to Sell Your 1982 Penny Finds

For Common Varieties (1−1−50)

• eBay (list as “1982 Penny Variety Lot”)
• Local coin shops
• Coin roll hunting groups

For Rare Varieties ($100+)

• Heritage Auctions
• GreatCollections
• PCGS Set Registry marketplace

For Copper Small Dates ($500+)

• Specialized Lincoln cent dealers
• Major coin shows
• Private treaty sales

Market Trends (2024 Update)

• Copper small dates up 30% in past year
• Certified examples commanding premiums
• Complete 1982 sets becoming popular
• Error coins gaining collector interest

Join Our Penny Hunting Community

🔍 At PennyVerse.info you’ll get:

• Free weekly variety guides
• Live Q&A with Lincoln cent experts
• Access to our rarity database
• Members-only buying opportunities

Found a potential rarity? Our team provides free preliminary evaluations – submit your photos today!

Would you like our free “1982 Penny Identification Checklist”? Download it instantly when you join our collector newsletter!

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