1982 Small Date Copper Penny 0

[Jfanth]

I’ve been reading about small date pennies. I’ve noticed that many of the small date pennies are 1982 D copper pennies. Is this 1982 no mint mark small date penny worth having certified? Sorry the picture is not very clear.

Edited March 16, 2021 by Jfantj

[Conder101]

1982 cents come with both large dates and small dates and in copper and copper plated zinc.  There are a total of 8 different variations

1982  P (no mintmark on P coins) copper large date

1982 P Copper small date

1982 P large date plated zinc

1982 P small date plated zinc

1982 D Copper large date

1982 D copper small date

1982 D large date plated zinc

1982 D small date plated zinc.

The ONLY one of these that has significant value is the 1982 D Copper Small date (only 2 are currently known).  All of the others are common. (But can bring a premium iif in VERY high grade)

Edited March 16, 2021 by Conder101

[Fenntucky Mike]

Yep, looks like a small date zinc cent to me. Not worth grading, most coins found in circulation are not. 

I would suggest using some of our hosts resources like Coin Explorer https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explorer/ and VirietyPlus https://www.ngccoin.com/variety-plus/united-states/ to look some of these up. These are good starting points to reference and you can go from there.

[Woods020]

Welcome to the forum. There are 7 varieties possible for the 1982 cent. The rarity is the 1982 D small date in copper. 
 

1. 1982 "Large Date" bronze;
2. 1982 "Small Date" bronze;
3. 1982 "Large Date" zinc;
4. 1982 "Small Date: zinc;
5. 1982-D "Large Date" bronze;
6. 1982-D "Large Date" zinc;
7. 1982-D "Small Date" zinc.

 

if you are curious how to tell the difference in copper/bronze or zinc, you can weigh them. Copper should come in at 3.11 grams and zinc 2.5 grams. 

[Woods020]

Just now, Woods020 said:

Welcome to the forum. There are 7 varieties possible for the 1982 cent. The rarity is the 1982 D small date in copper. 
 

1. 1982 "Large Date" bronze;
2. 1982 "Small Date" bronze;
3. 1982 "Large Date" zinc;
4. 1982 "Small Date: zinc;
5. 1982-D "Large Date" bronze;
6. 1982-D "Large Date" zinc;
7. 1982-D "Small Date" zinc.

 

if you are curious how to tell the difference in copper/bronze or zinc, you can weigh them. Copper should come in at 3.11 grams and zinc 2.5 grams. 

Conder correctly added an 8th variety to my list. 

[Jfanth]

1 minute ago, Woods020 said:

Welcome to the forum. There are 7 varieties possible for the 1982 cent. The rarity is the 1982 D small date in copper. 
 

1. 1982 "Large Date" bronze;
2. 1982 "Small Date" bronze;
3. 1982 "Large Date" zinc;
4. 1982 "Small Date: zinc;
5. 1982-D "Large Date" bronze;
6. 1982-D "Large Date" zinc;
7. 1982-D "Small Date" zinc.

 

if you are curious how to tell the difference in copper/bronze or zinc, you can weigh them. Copper should come in at 3.11 grams and zinc 2.5 grams. 

I weighed it and it is 3.11

[Woods020]

1 minute ago, Jfantj said:

I weighed it and it is 3.11

If it had a D (Denver mint) you would be all set. There were not supposed to be any copper small dates manufactured in Denver in 82. Yours was from Philadelphia. 

[Jfanth]

16 minutes ago, Woods020 said:

If it had a D (Denver mint) you would be all set. There were not supposed to be any copper small dates manufactured in Denver in 82. Yours was from Philadelphia. 

Got it! Thank you for your help!