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Lincoln Memorial Cent (1982 Transition Year)

Lincoln Memorial Penny 1982: Major Varieties and Mint Errors

Lincoln Memorial Penny: 1982 Transition Year

Guide dates: 1982

Design

Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait remained on the obverse. Frank Gasparro designed the reverse showing the Lincoln Memorial, with a tiny seated Lincoln visible between the columns. The design debuted in 1959 and continued through 2008. Philadelphia circulation strikes normally have no mintmark; Denver uses D. San Francisco circulation cents were struck through 1974, while later S-mint cents are proofs.

Key design details

Scope and attribution standard

This review draft covers the major 1982 Memorial-cent date, mintmark and composition combinations specifically emphasized by PCGS, with PCGS CoinFacts and NGC VarietyPlus attribution cross-checks. Ordinary dates and minor specialist dies are omitted. Repeatable die varieties are separated from one-off striking and planchet errors. No source photographs are reproduced. [1][3][4]

What is not covered: Ordinary dates, most repunched mintmarks, minor doubled dies and specialist-only die stages are outside this major-variety guide. Their omission does not mean no cataloged specialist varieties exist for those dates.

About the diagrams: These are original CoinHunt inspection schematics, not coin photographs. The rings identify the actual date, mintmark, legend, ear, FG, AM or physical-error area named in each entry.

Varieties

Quick jump: 1982

1982

1982 Date and Composition Varieties

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

Identify Large Date versus Small Date and then weigh the coin. Start with the final 2: the Large Date 2 has a straighter diagonal and broad, flatter base, while the Small Date 2 has a noticeably curved diagonal and a more delicate base. Then compare the 8: the Large Date has fuller, more nearly equal loops, while the Small Date has a visibly smaller upper loop. As a final check, the Small Date numerals appear more compact and their tops align more evenly; the Large Date numerals look taller and less level across the top. Copper-alloy pieces weigh about 3.11 grams; copper-plated zinc pieces weigh about 2.50 grams. Mintmark, date style and weight—not color—determine the variety.

Mint Date style Composition Approx. weight Status
Philadelphia Large Date Copper alloy 3.11 g Regular combination
Philadelphia Small Date Copper alloy 3.11 g Regular combination
Philadelphia Large Date Copper-plated zinc 2.50 g Regular combination
Philadelphia Small Date Copper-plated zinc 2.50 g Regular combination
Denver Large Date Copper alloy 3.11 g Regular combination
Denver Large Date Copper-plated zinc 2.50 g Regular combination
Denver Small Date Copper-plated zinc 2.50 g Regular combination
Denver Small Date Copper alloy 3.11 g Transitional rarity; authenticate

Use the table as a screening checklist; the transitional rarity still requires professional authentication. [source]

Catalog references: NGC Coin Explorer; PCGS CoinFacts.

CoinHunt original inspection map: 1982 Date and Composition Varieties LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT date weight Original variety map First check: final 2; then weigh IDENTIFY 2, THEN WEIGH

1982 Small Date Zinc DDR

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

On the 2.50-gram Small Date zinc cent, inspect UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM and ONE CENT for strong raised reverse doubling. Confirm both the host variety and the doubled-die markers. [source]

Catalog references: PCGS Varieties, Errors & More.

CoinHunt original inspection map: 1982 Small Date Zinc DDR UNITED STATES OF AMERICAONE CENTFG INSPECT reverse Original variety map First check: raised lettering RAISED DOUBLING—not a flat shelf

Errors

The entries below are mint errors or transitional planchet combinations, not repeatable hub or mintmark varieties. Each must be authenticated from the physical evidence on the individual coin.

1982-D Small Date Copper Transitional Variety

Applicable date(s): 1982-D

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

A genuine example combines the Denver Small Date obverse with the heavier copper-alloy planchet and weighs about 3.11 grams. Because this combination is exceptionally rare, require precise date-style confirmation, calibrated weight and professional composition testing. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: 1982-D Small Date Copper Transitional Variety LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT weight Original error map First check: calibrated weight WEIGH—DO NOT JUDGE BY COLOR

Off-center Strike

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

A genuine off-center strike has a blank crescent and corresponding loss of design from a planchet that was not centered between the dies. The remaining design should show normal Mint metal flow. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Off-center Strike LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT rim Original error map First check: rim and metal flow FOLLOW MINT METAL FLOW

Broadstrike

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

The coin was struck without full collar restraint and spread beyond normal diameter. Look for an expanded, unusually flat perimeter with a complete central design. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Broadstrike LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT rim Original error map First check: rim and metal flow FOLLOW MINT METAL FLOW

Double or Multiple Strike

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

Two or more press strikes created overlapping raised designs with coherent coining geometry. Vise damage and ordinary impacts do not reproduce Mint metal flow. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Double or Multiple Strike LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT field Original error map First check: relief and metal flow CONFIRM PHYSICAL RELIEF

Brockage

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

A previously struck coin impressed a recessed, mirror-image design into the next planchet. The transferred image must be incuse and reversed. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Brockage LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT field Original error map First check: relief and metal flow CONFIRM PHYSICAL RELIEF

Clipped Planchet

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

A genuine clip comes from an incomplete blank and shows compatible metal flow, often with a weakened rim opposite the missing arc—the Blakesley effect. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Clipped Planchet LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT edge Original error map First check: opposite-rim weakness CHECK OPPOSITE RIM

Lamination or Split Planchet

Applicable date(s): 1982 copper-alloy varieties only

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

An alloy flaw caused the planchet metal to peel or separate. Distinguish true internal metal separation from corrosion, gouging and damage. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Lamination or Split Planchet LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT field Original error map First check: relief and metal flow CONFIRM PHYSICAL RELIEF

Struck-through

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

Foreign material between a die and planchet left a recessed texture or missing design. A retained struck-through still holds the object; most preserve only its impression. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Struck-through LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT field Original error map First check: relief and metal flow CONFIRM PHYSICAL RELIEF

Wrong-planchet or Off-metal Strike

Applicable date(s): 1982

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

The cent design was struck on a planchet intended for another coin. Diameter, weight, composition, edge and the way the design fits must all agree. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Wrong-planchet or Off-metal Strike LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT weight Original error map First check: calibrated weight WEIGH—DO NOT JUDGE BY COLOR

Copper-plating Errors

Applicable date(s): 1982 zinc varieties

Do You Have One? What To Look For:

Missing plating, split plating before strike and other genuine plating failures must show Mint-made surface and strike evidence. Environmental zinc corrosion, bubbles and aftermarket plating are not automatically Mint errors. [6]

CoinHunt original inspection map: Copper-plating Errors LIBERTYDATEMINT INSPECT field Original error map First check: relief and metal flow CONFIRM PHYSICAL RELIEF

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Sources

  1. PCGS: Varieties, Errors, & More. Major Memorial-cent variety scope and diagnostics. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  2. PCGS: Lincoln Cent Rarities—1970-S Large Date DDO. Diagnostics for rare 1969-S and 1970-S doubled dies. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  3. PCGS CoinFacts: Lincoln Cent, Modern. Series catalog and attribution records.
  4. NGC VarietyPlus: Lincoln Cents, Memorial Reverse. Recognized variety catalog and FS cross-references.
  5. NGC Coin Explorer: Lincoln Cents, Memorial Reverse. Series composition and date-style overview.
  6. CONECA: Glossary of Error-Variety Terms. Definitions for mint-error and die-variety terminology.

Editorial boundary: PCGS, NGC and CONECA are credited for cataloging and diagnostic research. CoinHunt does not reproduce their photographs. All SVG inspection maps are original educational schematics and are not substitutes for certified comparison images.

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