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Uncirculated

The 7 Business Strike Varieties: · 1982 Large Date Copper · 1982 Large Date Copper plated Zinc · 1982 Small Date Copper · 1982 Small Date Copper plated Zinc · 1982 D Large Date Copper · 1982 D Large Date Copper plated Zinc · 1982 D Small Date Copper plated Zinc Background In the early 1980's, with the increasing costs of metals, it was costing the government nearly a penny to make a penny. Unable to get Congress to approve eliminating the cent, the mint decided to make it out of the cheapest metal that would still work in toll machines and other applications Thus, the metal decided upon was to be zinc and the cents were to have the very thin copper plating. 1982 was chosen as the transition year to put this change into effect. The die varieties were noticed by coin collectors, and since collectors normally relish small details, these varieties became popularized and now show up in coin albums that way. Identifying the 7 Varieties The 1982 cents can be Philadelphia mint (no mintmark) or Denver mint (D mintmark). Secondly, 1982 cents can be a large date or a small date. One of the best ways to distinguish is to look at the number "2" in the date. The large date "2" has a thick, fat base with no curve. The small date "2" has a delicate base with a slow curve at its base. Thirdly, the solid copper cents weigh approximately 3.1 grams, while the copper-coated zinc ones weigh only 2.5 grams. I meet at the Food Lion in Randleman, NC if interested.