1982 Copper Penny Could Be Worth $10,000 | Rare Find

Did you hear?… A rare 1982 copper penny is worth an astounding $10,000!

That’s right — and the exciting part is there could be more of these valuable coins out there. You might even have one sitting in your pocket change right now!

This high value comes from the fact that it’s a rare type known as the 1982-D Small Date copper penny.

What’s The 1982 Small Date Copper Penny Worth?

The first confirmed 1982-D Small Date copper penny was sold for a whopping $18,800 at a Stack’s Bowers auction on August 3, 2017. A second one showed up later and fetched $10,800 during an auction with Heritage Auctions on April 25, 2019.

Both coins had only minor wear and were found in everyday circulation. So they looked just like regular 1982-D Small Date pennies — nothing unusual at first glance.

Can you imagine… a penny worth $10,000 just floating around in circulation?

It’s pretty wild, right? But spotting one isn’t easy. This rare coin looks almost identical to the more common 1982-D Small Date zinc pennies.

How To Find The Rare 1982-D Small Date Copper Penny

You might be wondering — how do you actually find one of these?

Only two have been confirmed, but very few people closely check their 1982 pennies. Most of these coins are only worth a couple of cents, so they often get overlooked.

But if you pay attention and check carefully, you might come across one. If you find a 1982-D penny, hold onto it! The “D” under the year means it came from the Denver Mint — and that’s crucial.

To identify the rare version, you’ll need to weigh the coin using a small coin scale (which you can find online or in stores for under $20). This will help you figure out whether it’s made of copper or the more common zinc.

1982 Copper Penny vs. 1982 Zinc Penny Weights

Here’s a quick guide to help:

• Copper pennies (brass) weigh about 3.11 grams
• Zinc pennies weigh around 2.5 grams

But keep in mind, there’s a small margin allowed:

• Copper pennies can weigh between 2.98g and 3.24g
• Zinc pennies can weigh between 2.40g and 2.60g

1982 Small Date Penny vs. 1982 Large Date Penny Numerals

So how do you know if it’s a Small Date or a Large Date?

Look at the numbers in the year “1982”:

• On a Large Date, the “9” and “8” appear taller than the “1” and “2”.
• On a Small Date, the tops of all four numbers are even, and so are the bottoms of “1,” “8,” and “2.”

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to tell the difference easily!

The Story Behind The Rare 1982 Copper Penny

The rare 1982-D penny that turned out to be made of copper was found in late 2016 — and its value soared because it wasn’t supposed to exist.

In 1982, the U.S. Mint was switching from copper (actually a brass mix) to a cheaper material: copper-plated zinc. The reason? Copper prices were getting too high.

This kind of situation isn’t new. Back in 1974, the Mint even tested aluminum pennies — over 1.5 million were made! But they were never released because of health concerns and problems with vending machines. Most were destroyed.

By 1981, the Mint went ahead with a cheaper metal, leading to the production of “Zincolns” — zinc coins coated with copper.

The first zinc pennies came from the West Point Mint in January 1982, and the last copper ones were made later that year.

The 9 Different Types of 1982 Pennies

Because of the metal change and date design changes, there are actually nine types of 1982 pennies:

1. 1982 Large Date copper
2. 1982 Small Date copper
3. 1982-D copper
4. 1982 Large Date zinc
5. 1982 Small Date zinc
6. 1982-D Large Date zinc
7. 1982-D Small Date zinc
8. 1982-S copper proof
9. 1982-D Small Date copper (the rare one!)

Experts believe the rare copper Small Date version from Denver was made when a leftover brass blank was accidentally used during production.

The First Discovery Of The Rare 1982 Copper Penny

The first one was found by Paul Malone on November 23, 2016, while he was sorting through his collection of 1982 pennies. It was the first one ever found — and it had been hiding for over 30 years!

There could easily be more out there, waiting to be discovered. Maybe you’ll be the next lucky finder!

Why Is The Rare 1982 Copper Penny Worth So Much?

You might ask — who would pay that much for a penny?

The answer: coin collectors. They love rare error coins, especially ones that weren’t supposed to be made. Since this coin was a minting mistake, it’s incredibly valuable to collectors.

And with only a couple known examples, it’s extremely rare. These kinds of off-metal error coins are highly collectible — some even sell for over $10,000.

Other Rare Copper Penny Errors You Might Find

Check out these other valuable errors that could also show up in pocket change:

• 1943 copper penny – worth over $100,000
• 1983 no mintmark brass penny (Philadelphia) – up to $23,500
• 1983-D brass penny – sold for more than $15,000
• 1989-D brass penny – one went for $22,325
• 1990-D brass penny – valued at up to $15,000

So grab a coin scale, check your change, and who knows — you might just hit the penny jackpot!