1982 Penny Value: Copper, Zinc, Large Date and Small Date
Most 1982 pennies are worth one cent. 1982 is the year the Mint switched from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc, so there are copper and zinc versions in large and small dates. Uncirculated ones are worth about 36 cents to $2.50. The famous rarity is a 1982-D small date struck in copper, and only two are known.
- Copper version
- 95% copper, weighs 3.11 grams.
- Zinc version
- 97.5% zinc with a copper plating, weighs 2.50 grams.
- Mint mark
- Under the date. Philadelphia coins have none.
Value by grade
| Type | Philadelphia | Denver (D) |
|---|---|---|
| Copper, large date | $1.24 | $1.24 |
| Copper, small date | $2.50 | Not regularly made |
| Zinc, large date | $0.61 | $0.49 |
| Zinc, small date | $1.05 | $0.36 |
Retail values from USA Coin Book. Circulated 1982 pennies of every type are worth face value. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- Weigh it on a scale that reads to 0.01 g. About 3.1 g means copper. About 2.5 g means zinc.
- Compare the date to another 1982. Small date numbers are visibly smaller than large date numbers.
- A 1982-D that weighs 3.1 g and has a small date is the rare one. Get it authenticated by PCGS or NGC.
Fakes and lookalikes
- Viral posts claim ordinary 1982 pennies are worth thousands. They are not. The rare version is a specific copper 1982-D small date, and it is confirmed by weight and authentication, not by looks.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
Is my 1982 penny worth anything?
Almost always one cent. Only uncirculated coins carry a small premium, and only the 1982-D small date copper is a true rarity.
How do I tell a copper 1982 penny from a zinc one?
Weigh it. Copper is 3.11 grams and zinc is 2.50 grams. A drop test also works: copper rings, zinc thuds, but a scale is more reliable.
What is the 1982-D small date copper penny?
A transitional error where a Denver small date penny was struck on an old copper blank. Only two are known, found in 2016 and 2019.
Is the penny discontinued?
The Mint struck its last circulating penny on Nov 12, 2025. Pennies remain legal tender.
Related coins
Sources
- USA Coin Book, Lincoln Memorial cent values
- PCGS CoinFacts, 1982-D 1C Zinc Small Date
- Numismatic News, second 1982-D small date copper discovered
- Numismatic News, rare 1982-D small date copper found
- USA Today, valuable copper pennies (Aug 2026)
- Treasury, penny production FAQ
Values are retail estimates or recorded sale prices from the sources above, checked Oct 8, 2026. What a dealer pays you is usually less than retail.
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