How to Find a 1982-D Small Date Bronze Lincoln Cent

The 1982-D Small Date bronze Lincoln cent is a transitional error that, by the Mint’s own production schedule, should never have existed. Denver moved from striking bronze cents with Large Date dies directly to zinc cents—it never intentionally struck a bronze cent with a Small Date die. A tiny number were apparently struck anyway, by accident, when leftover bronze planchets from before the changeover met the new Small Date dies. As of the most recent public reporting, only two confirmed examples are known.

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What makes the 1982-D Small Date bronze cent important to collectors?

In 1982, the Mint changed the Lincoln cent’s composition from 95% copper (about 3.11 grams) to copper-plated zinc (about 2.5 grams) to cut rising material costs, and separately updated its date-punch design from “Large Date” to “Small Date” numerals. At Denver, those two changes lined up so that every bronze cent struck there used the old Large Date dies, and every cent struck with the new Small Date dies used the new zinc planchets—except, apparently, for a handful of coins struck on a few leftover bronze planchets right around the changeover.

The coin’s existence was only a theory among specialists for decades. According to numismatic trade-press coverage (CoinWeek and Heritage Auctions’ own cataloging), the first confirmed example came to light publicly around 2016–2017, graded NGC AU58, and reportedly sold for $18,800 at a Stack’s Bowers auction in August 2017. A second example, also graded AU58 BN by NGC, is reported to have sold for $10,800 through Heritage Auctions in April 2019 and changed hands again for $8,400 in September 2019, per Heritage’s public auction archive. Values for any further examples in similar condition are likely to fall in a comparable range, though a coin in notably better condition could bring substantially more, and any specific price should be verified against the auction house’s own records before being treated as a benchmark.

How to identify a 1982-D Small Date bronze cent

Because so few genuine examples exist, verification has to be exact—there’s no room for “probably.”

Confirm the “D” mint mark

A small “D” appears beneath the date.

Confirm the Small Date

The “2” curves up at the bottom into a “swan’s neck,” and the “8” has a noticeably smaller top loop than bottom loop, giving it a “snowman” silhouette. This date-punch difference is a recognized attribution point used by both PCGS and NGC, not a product of wear, strike weakness, or die deterioration—so compare the full digit shapes against certified reference images rather than judging from a single worn feature. This is the harder-to-find combination at Denver—most 1982-D Small Date cents you’ll encounter are the ordinary zinc version.

Weigh it

This is the step that actually separates a common coin from a life-changing one. Per PCGS CoinFacts and the U.S. Mint’s published specifications, the pre-1982 bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% zinc and tin) weighs approximately 3.11 grams, while the copper-plated zinc composition (97.5% zinc core with a thin copper plating) weighs approximately 2.5 grams; both share the same 19.05mm diameter and plain edge. Use a digital scale accurate to at least 0.01 gram. Any 1982-D Small Date cent weighing close to 3.11 grams warrants immediate, careful follow-up.

Get it authenticated

Given how few confirmed examples exist and how much a genuine one is worth, do not rely on a home scale reading alone to conclude you have a discovery coin. Submit it to a major third-party grading service (PCGS or NGC) for authentication before treating it as genuine or attempting to sell it. Authentication also screens out planchet errors, plating tricks, and coins that have been altered to mimic the weight of a bronze cent.

Buying considerations

This coin essentially never appears in ordinary dealer inventory

With only two confirmed examples known, don’t expect to find one listed for sale in the normal course of browsing dealer inventory. If a listing claims to be a 1982-D Small Date bronze cent, treat it with real skepticism until you’ve confirmed independent, current third-party certification—not just a seller’s description or a home weight check reported secondhand.

Certification is not optional here

For a coin at this rarity and price level, only a certified example from a recognized grading service, with its certification number verified directly on the service’s own website, should be considered a serious purchase.

Watch for miscategorized zinc coins

The overwhelming majority of 1982-D Small Date cents offered as “possibly bronze” turn out to be ordinary zinc cents once weighed properly, sometimes with added toning that makes them look coppery. A verified weight of 2.5 grams rules the coin out immediately.

Suggested search terms and filters

Try “1982-D Small Date bronze cent,” “1982-D transitional error cent,” or “1982-D 1C bronze small date.” Expect very few or zero results in ordinary search—that’s the expected outcome for a coin this rare, not a sign the search is broken.

Availability and pricing notes

Given only two confirmed examples as of the most recent public reporting, availability through normal dealer channels is effectively nonexistent. Should a new example surface, expect it to be authenticated and sold through a major auction house rather than casual dealer listings.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin to confirm there’s nothing currently listed.
2. Add it to your wishlist. For a coin this rare, an alert is the only realistic way to hear about a listing without watching every auction house yourself.
3. Get notified if a matching listing is ever detected.
4. Treat any match with extra scrutiny. Confirm current, verifiable third-party certification before taking any listing at face value, and independently research the coin’s provenance where possible.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1982-D Small Date bronze cents are known?

Two confirmed examples, as of the most recent public reporting in numismatic trade press—the discovery coin (reportedly sold for $18,800 in 2017) and a second example (reportedly sold for $10,800 in 2019). Always confirm current population and pedigree information directly with PCGS or NGC, since new examples can surface.

How do I check if my 1982-D Small Date cent might be the rare bronze version?

Weigh it on a scale accurate to 0.01 gram. About 2.5 grams means it’s the common zinc cent. About 3.11 grams means you should stop and get it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before doing anything else.

Is every heavy-looking 1982-D Small Date cent genuine?

No. Toning, plating issues, and simple measurement error can make an ordinary zinc cent look or weigh differently than expected. Only a verified weight from a calibrated scale, followed by professional authentication, can confirm a genuine example.

What’s this coin worth?

The two known examples have sold for $18,800 and $10,800 at auction (with the second later reselling for $8,400). Prices for coins this rare can vary significantly based on grade and market conditions at the time of sale.

What if I think I’ve found one?

Do not clean it. Have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before assuming it’s genuine, discussing a sale, or listing it anywhere.

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