Pre-1982 pennies contain a much greater percentage of copper. Post-1982 pennies are mostly zinc. … Copper and zinc atoms make brass and looks like gold.

Also What penny is worth $10000?

The Rare 1943 Penny

If your 1943 penny is made out copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong kind of planchet metal when striking the coin.

Subsequently, How can you tell the difference between 1982 pennies? If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.

Which 1982 penny is worth money? Which 1982 Penny Is Worth The Most? The most valuable 1982 penny is a transitional error caused by the move from 95% copper to 99.2% zinc composition. It’s the 1982-D “small date” Lincoln Memorial cent made from copper.

How can you tell if you have a 1982-D small date penny?

You’ve got to check the alignment of the tops of each numeral in the date to see if you’ve got a small date or large date penny: On a 1982-D Large Date penny, the tops of the “9” and “8” in the “1982” date will appear higher than the “1” and the “2”

What penny is worth $50000?

The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It’s worth $50,000!

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth in 2021?

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth in 2021? Coleccionistasdemonedas.com Estimated Value of 1943 Steel Penny is: In average grades can be found between $0.09 and $0.14. In high grades (MS67, MS68), Proofs, Uncirculated (MS+) or Mint Condition can be Worth until $21,275.

How much is a 1973 S Lincoln penny worth?

The 1973 S penny is worth around $0.85 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade. Proof coins with the S mint mark are available and they are each valued at around $1 in PR 65 condition. There were 2,760,339 proof coins minted.

How can you tell the difference between copper and zinc 1982 pennies?

#1 – Check the date on the penny.

Here’s the rule of thumb: Pennies dated before 1982 were made of copper (technically, 95% copper and 5% zinc). Pennies dated after 1982 were made of zinc (technically, 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper).

How can you tell a bronze penny from a copper penny?

Try picking your coin up with a magnet. If your coin is attracted to the magnet, it is made of copper-plated steel (a fraud). If the magnet does not attract your coin, it may be made of bronze and you should have the coin authenticated to determine if it is the “real deal”.

What makes a 1982 D penny valuable?

The most valuable 1982 penny is a transitional error caused by the move from 95% copper to 99.2% zinc composition. It’s the 1982-D “small date” Lincoln Memorial cent made from copper. Leftover copper planchets struck with the new “Small Date” dies meant for zinc coins caused this error coin rarity.

What are the 7 different 1982 pennies?


The metallic composition and obverse master hub changes ultimately led to the creation of seven different types of 1982 business-strike Lincoln cents, including:

  • 1982 brass large date.
  • 1982 brass small date.
  • 1982 zinc large date.
  • 1982 zinc small date.
  • 1982-D brass large date.
  • 1982-D zinc large date.
  • 1982-D zinc small date.

How much does a 1982-D small date penny weigh?

There are two key diagnostics: the size of the date and the coin’s weight. The 1982-D small date bronze weighs about 3.1 grams, versus only 2.5 grams for the far more common zinc issue.

How can you tell the difference between a 1982 small date and a big date?

On small-date 1982 cents, the “8” in the date is roughly the same height as the “1” and “2,” meaning a straight line can run across the tops and bottoms of those digits in the date. On the other hand, the “8” on the large-date coin looks relatively fat and is longer than the “2.”

How much is a 1982 D small date penny worth?

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1982-D Lincoln Memorial Penny (Zinc – Small Date Variety) is Worth $0.32 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition.

What is a 1982 small date penny worth?

Zinc Pennies

They each weigh 2.5 grams. The 1982 zinc penny with no mint mark and the small date is worth around $0.85 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade. The 1982 zinc penny with no mint mark and the large date is worth around $0.50 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade.

Why is a 1959 d penny worth so much?

It’s possible that as time goes on, coin collectors may be able to identify what pair of dies was used in striking the 1959-D penny error. If they can do this, or if one of the slabbing services like PCGS or NGC decides to certify and encapsulate the coin, the 1959-D wheat cent may become worth even more.

How much is a 1974 penny worth today?

The 1974 penny with no mint mark and the 1974 D penny are each worth around $0.30 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade. The 1974 S penny is worth around $0.75 in uncirculated condition with an MS 65 grade. Proof coins with the S mint mark are available and they are each valued at around $1 in PR 65 condition.

How much is a 1966 penny worth today?

A 1966 penny is worth about 2 cents — even in worn condition. A typical uncirculated 1966 penny is worth around 10 to 20 cents apiece.

What 1943 steel pennies are worth money?

The majority of examples of 1943 steel pennies are in circulated condition and have developed a lot of spots and tarnish. These are worth less than a dollar, but nice Mint State coins are also available. Uncirculated 1943 cents from each branch mint. In MS60 they are worth $7; $15 in MS63; and $28 in MS65.

How do I know if my 1943 steel penny is worth money?

The easiest way to determine whether or not your 1943 Cent has collectible value—to see if it is possibly bronze rather than steel—is simply to test it with a magnet. If the coin is magnetic, then it is, unfortunately, the common steel version and is not valuable in most cases.

Which 1943 steel penny is worth the most?

Most 1943 steel pennies aren’t worth much above their face value. This may come as something of a surprise to the many who believe these coins are quite valuable.




1943 Steel Cent Value

  • 1943 Philadelphia Mint cents – 684,628,670.
  • 1943-D Denver Mint cents – 217,660,000.
  • 1943-S San Francisco cents – 191,550,000.

Are S mint pennies rare?

These Denver pennies without a mintmark are rare and became a popular error coin. San Francisco mint (“S” mintmark) pennies in comparison to Philadelphia pennies were minted in fewer quantities. … However, in 1931 less than 866,000 were released and another rare penny was part of a set of Lincoln cents.

How much is a penny with an S on it worth?

CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1944 S Wheat Penny value at an average of 15 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $8.