The top penny weighs 3.15g. The bottom penny weighs 3.12g. They both have large dates. I need help figuring out how to tell the difference in transitional pennies, please.
Thank you...lots of different ones out there. So, which ones are considered rare? I'm a bit confused on that.
Some are more sought after than others with none being "rare", after all a variety is produced 1000's of times until the die is retired. The really rare one is the 1982D small date with only a couple known.
It's fun to sort through all of them, but it's nice to know what I'm on the lookout for. LOL That was a heck of a year for the penny though. Thank you for your help!
In high UNC there is a small value guide difference between the types, fun to find all 7 but not something you'll get rich from. You can learn to distinguish between zinc and copper from the sound they make on a hard surface (not recommended for high grade coins of course). I found the easiest way to tell large date from small is the gap between 2 and the rim. For the small date, the bottom of the 2 would easily fit in the gap, and the large date clearly wouldn't.
It's been fun looking through all my pennies. I came across the 1982s and started doing some research, but got a bit confused. Thank you for your help, the date difference is the hardest part. What I really need is a better magnifying glass with a light to help me look at my coins. My eyes are starting to get strained.
@MaryContrary …in 1982, 9 varieties of Lincoln Memorial Cents were minted. @alurid posted the 7 common, easier to find coins, but now…41 years later they are next to impossible to be found in uncirculated condition, as shown in his display, and especially not from circulation or pocket change. EDIT TO CLARIFY: You can find the common ones from circulation, but they are all in mostly circulated condition. There was also a proof minted…1982-S…I believe it was a large date in copper. The super-rare 1982 variety was the Copper Small Date Denver. Only 2 have been discovered. It is believed they were made from leftover copper planchets in the bin destined for Zinc Denver Small Date production. …imo…Spark
I also said 7 because the proof isn't a circulation coin and the 1982-D small date copper you might as well buy lottery tickets instead of thinking you'll find one.
I appreciate your input. Any clarification I can get on this will most definitely help. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me.