The 1982 Lincoln Memorial cent is one of the most circulated pennies, with a massive mintage of about 16.73 billion. That’s why most 1982 pennies sitting in jars are worth exactly one cent today.
But a handful of 1982 varieties and errors are worth real money, like the Small Date 1982 cent that auctioned for $15,600 and the rare 1982-D Small Date copper error that sold for $18,800. The key to a 1982 Lincoln penny’s value is knowing which errors and types to look for.
Short Answer: Is Your 1982 Penny Valuable?
An ordinary circulated 1982 penny will sell for face value, up to $0.05. Uncirculated coins in good condition usually fetch between $0.30 and $5. But some unusual varieties and high-quality coins have quite a different value proposition.
4 Easy Signs Your 1982 Penny May Be Valuable:
- It weighs 3.1 grams and bears a “D” mint mark with a tiny date.
- It exhibits doubling on “LIBERTY” or the date when examined under a microscope.
- It is rated MS-67 or better with full original red color.
- It has a clear strike error such as off-centering or broad strikes.
If one of these criteria applies to you, continue reading. Your coin may be much more valuable than that.
A Brief History of the 1982 Penny
In 1982, the U.S. Mint replaced the 95% copper penny with the zinc cent. As copper prices soared, the one-cent piece’s metal content came perilously close to its face value. The solution: a zinc core with a thin copper plating, reducing the weight to 2.50 grams from 3.11 grams.
The transition to the new alloy wasn’t an instantaneous process. Both metals were minted side-by-side using two different hubs at two different mints, resulting in seven varieties in one year. That makes 1982 one of the most rewarding years of Lincoln Memorial pennies.
How to Identify a 1982 Lincoln Penny?
In just three simple steps, you will know whether you have a genuine 1982 penny. There is no need for any special skills here.
Start With the Mint Mark
Look at the obverse (the Lincoln side). Just under the date, a little “D” means the coin was minted at the Denver Mint. No mark usually means Philadelphia, but San Francisco and West Point also struck some 1982 cents without a mark, and an “S” means San Francisco.
However, San Francisco pennies with an “S” are only proofs meant for collections.
- 1982 no mint mark (Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point) – 10,712,525,000 cents
- 1982-D Denver – 6,012,979,368 cents
- 1982-S San Francisco proof – 3,857,479 cents
Weigh Your Coin on a Digital Scale
This is how you can distinguish between copper and zinc. A 1982 copper cent weighs 3.11 grams. The weight of zinc is 2.50 grams. Any ordinary kitchen digital scale that can measure down to 0.1 grams will work just fine.
Comparison of the Date Style
Pay attention to the number “2” in 1982; it creates two varieties.
In the Large Date version, the bottom of the “2” number has a straight line. In contrast, in the Small Date, the bottom of the “2” number has a little curve.
You can use a magnifier to check this detail, but many can distinguish between the two even without any special devices. If you are unsure, compare your coin with a known Large Date and a known Small Date, or with the side-by-side date photo on PCGS CoinFacts.
1982 Penny Key Specifications
- Lincoln Memorial reverse designed by Frank Gasparro
- Obverse designed by Victor D. Brenner
- 19.05 mm diameter
- Copper composition: 3.11 g (95% copper, 5% zinc)
- Zinc composition: 2.50 g (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper plating)
What Makes a 1982 Penny Valuable?
Not every 1982 penny is worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. These four factors separate the common ones from the coins collectors actually want:
- Composition is important here. Copper varieties have a slight metallic premium. But the money lies in the transitional errors where the wrong planchet is used.
- Date format becomes an issue. The Small Date varieties are harder to find, particularly in copper. Collecting a Small Date in top condition is really hard.
- Condition is crucial. A copper Large Date in MS-65 Red is priced at about $8 in collector price guides; the same coin in MS-67 Red is about $150. Once you go above MS-67, the price rises exponentially. Third-party grading from PCGS or NGC is important.
- Color description is critical here. Grading agencies give Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB), and Brown (BN). Coins in full red, which means that they retained their natural color, are always the most valuable.
Most Collectible 1982 Penny Errors & Varieties
The weight test and date test will sort out all but the varieties and errors that actually have value. And here is a list of the 1982 pennies you should be looking for:
1. 1982-D Small Date Copper Penny
This is the rarest and most valuable 1982 penny. The Denver Mint had planned to produce only zinc coins when using the Small Date die. However, there were some copper planchets left, and a couple of them were mistakenly struck.
As of 2019, NGC had confirmed two, both graded AU 58 Brown: the discovery coin found in circulation in 2016 and a second example confirmed in 2019, as Coin World reported.
The discovery coin brought $18,800 when Stack’s Bowers auctioned it in August 2017, according to NGC. While many have heard of the $35,000 penny, the real highest confirmed sale of a 1982 penny is $18,800.
Most 1982-D Small Date cents are zinc, weigh about 2.5 grams, and are worth face value. The ungraded coin pictured above was not described as copper in its listing, so its $1,800 price doesn’t prove it is one.
- Estimated Value: $8,400 to $18,800 (NGC AU 58 auction sales, 2017 to 2019)
- What to Check: “D” mint mark, 3.11g weight, small date
- Quick Notes: At least two confirmed as of 2019; PCGS/NGC certification mandatory
2. 1982 Small Date Copper Penny (No Mint Mark)
The Small Date copper from Philadelphia is one of the hardest of the seven regular issues to find in high grade, according to PCGS. While it is not an error coin, it turns up far less often than the Large Date, though the Mint never published a separate mintage for it.
An excellent Mint State condition with the Red coloration is a rare find. PCGS CoinFacts lists its auction record as $9,988 for an MS67+ Red (Heritage, February 2014). Worn copper Small Dates normally sell for far less than the $2,500 paid for the ungraded coin above.
- Estimated Value: $0.05 (circulated) up to $9,988 (record, MS-67+ RD)
- What to Check: No mint mark, 3.11g, small date style
3. 1982 Small Date Zinc Penny, MS-68 Red
While most zinc Small Date cents are worth only a penny, they rank among the biggest surprises in terms of value for this date in perfect condition.
Being more malleable than copper, the zinc planchet picked up contact marks easily. That’s why surviving examples in MS-69 grade are genuinely rare.
The highest record for an MS69 Red was $15,600 (Stack’s Bowers, August 2019), though another MS69 Red brought in $4,636 at Heritage in March 2026. The coin above is one grade lower, MS-68 Red.
- Estimated Value: $0.01 (circulated) to $15,600 (MS-69 RD)
- What to Check: No mint mark, 2.5g, small date, flawless surfaces
- Quick Notes: Zinc softness makes high grades extremely rare
4. 1982-S Proof Penny
The San Francisco Mint struck approximately 3,860,000 proof cents during 1982, but all were struck on copper blanks. Proof coins from 1982 were only released as collector’s proof sets; they were never put into circulation.
Proofs from 1982 in PR-65 grade are worth between $2 and $4 each, but Deep Cameo specimens in PR-69 grade could fetch between $15 and $40. A perfect PR-70 is much scarcer.
PCGS calls the top contrast grade Deep Cameo (DCAM), and NGC calls the same grade Ultra Cameo, so the NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo coin above is the same grade as a PCGS PR-70 DCAM.
- Estimated Value: $15 to $40 (PR-69 DCAM); $2,000+ (PR-70 DCAM or Ultra Cameo)
- What to Check: “S” mint mark, mirror finish, copper planchet
- Quick Notes: All 1982 proofs are copper, never circulated
5. 1982 Double Die Obverse
There are several doubled dies in 1982 pennies, with the doubled dies showing on the date, “LIBERTY,” or “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
Use a 10x loupe to check the doubling. The more pronounced the doubling, the more valuable the coin, especially in high grades. Most 1982 DDO pennies usually cost between $20 and $75.
- Estimated Value: $20 to $100+ (depending on severity & grade)
- What to Check: Doubling on date, LIBERTY, or motto
6. 1982 Off-Center Strike Penny
A strike that fails to feed correctly through the machine will miss part of its design. An off-center strike of 5% to 10% on the 1982 penny is relatively common and can fetch you between $5 and $15. But off-center strikes of between 25% and 50%, where the date is legible, can fetch anywhere from $50 to $150 once graded.
- Estimated Value: $5 to $150 (as per percentage & date visibility)
- What to Check: Percentage of missing design, date visible
- Quick Notes: A readable date is crucial for a premium.
7. 1982 Penny Cud Error
A cud error happens when a piece of the die breaks off to leave behind a raised mass of metal along the edge of the coin. Minor die cracks on 1982 pennies will cost between $3 and $10; large cuds often bring $40 to $100 or more.
- Estimated Value: $3 to $100+ (minor crack to major cud)
- What to Check: Raised lines or rim blobs on surface
- Quick Notes: Larger cuds near lettering are worth more.
8. 1982 Rotated Double Struck In Collar Error
Double strikes happen when the coin undergoes two striking actions rather than just one. In this example, the coin was struck by the die twice but rotated slightly within the retaining collar during minting, so the whole image has been doubled and shifted.
The coin shown, a 1982 Small Date copper cent graded NGC MS 66 Brown, sold for over $1,575 on eBay.
- What to Check: Two overlapping, rotated designs inside a normal round rim
- Quick Notes: Have it certified by PCGS or NGC before selling
The 1982 penny falls under the category of transitional year coins, which pay off for rarity. Take out your scale and start looking at some unusual signs. The majority of them are worth a penny, but a rare coin may just be waiting in your piggy bank.
Found this guide useful?
Save it for later
Share it with someone
Keep the old finds coming
New guides and finds worth looking for, delivered to your inbox.
Keep exploring
More guides in Old Coins
8 finds1965 Quarter Worth: Rare Mint Errors & Varieties to SpotTop sale $299
13 finds13 Most Valuable Lincoln Memorial Pennies Worth Money (From 1959 to 2008)Top sale $2,050
10 finds1920 Wheat Penny Value: Errors, Varieties & Rare Coins Worth SavingTop sale $1,655
8 findsIs A 1937 Buffalo Nickel Worth Anything? Errors & Signs to KnowTop sale $7,685