The Eight 1982 Lincoln Cents Hi, and welcome to this week's "TRIVIA." Do you realize the composition of the Lincoln Cent was changed in 1982? Do you realize it was not changed right away? The Lincoln Cent was a copper coin from 1909 until 1982 when it became a Copper-Plated Zinc coin. Do you know the first Lincoln Cents struck in 1982 at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco are copper? Philadelphia minted 10,712,525,000 Lincoln Cents for circulation (business strikes) (no mint mark). Denver produced 6,012,979,368 "business strike" Lincoln Cents ("D" mint mark). San Francisco struck 3,857,479 "proof" Lincoln Cents in copper ("S" mint mark). As per usual circumstance the size of the date proved unsatisfactory for such a large mintage at Philadelphia, so, the date's size had to be changed. Viola! Two date sizes: Small and Large. No such circumstance at Denver or San Francisco on the Copper Lincoln Cents struck at those branch mints: Denver's Copper Lincoln Cents bear only the Large Date on them. Mind you, San Francisco struck only Proof sets in 1982 and all those are Copper. When the order for the composition of the 1982 Lincoln Cent be changed to Copper-Plated Zinc, only Philadelphia and Denver continued to mint the 1982s. Because of their high (billions) of strikes authorized, they were the only mints who needed to keep producing to meet their production limit. Once more circumstance dictated a change in date size, but, this time, at both Philadelphia and Denver, so there are Small and Large dates on 1982 (no mint mark) and 1982-D Copper-Plated Zinc Cents. If you would like to see the difference in size of 1982 dates click on the next Link (courtesy of coinpeople.com): Scroll to photo. Not only does photo show close-up enlargements of both size dates, there is accompanying text which is so explicit, you won't need magnification to distinguish "Large Date" from "Small Date" Lincoln Cents you find in change. http://www.coinpeople.com/1982-Cent-Fun-t7417.html Hope you find this helpful... Clinker
Here is some more trivia about 82 cents West Point Mint made 1.9 billion and San Fransico Mint made 1.5 billion just need to subtract these numbers from the 10.7 billion Phil total here is an article from NGC about the 4 mints making the 82 cents http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?NewsletterNewsArticleID=195
To: I'mTheCrew: No, but they're included in the billions struck in Philly and Denver... To: acanthite, CameroDMD, IMtheCrew, jaceravone, Jim M, PennyGuy, rzage and wiggamoo7: Thanks for nominating this post as "Post of the Week." To acanthite, rzage (rusty), bobbeth, north49guy and DMD... Thanks for reading and your comments... Clinker
To ImTheCrew: In the '60s I used to purchase coins from Mail List Auction Dealers where bidders could only bid once during the Auction period (monthly, bi-monthly, 90 days, etc. I purchased most of my coins during that period from B.C. Sayers, 1000 Unika Avenue, Johnson City, Tennesee. I believe he passed away and his son sold all remaing coins to a local dealer and never attempted to continue his dad's coin business. Sorry about making you read about an old memory, but you being in Tennesee, reminded me of some of my fondest numismatic experiences... Clinker
In the Crew of all the 82s I find - i total them up and so far after 3100 1982's that come across my desk (excluding the "D" minted ones) i come up with 4½% for small date Cu and 12½% for small date zinc from the 10.7 billion cents made - i put all my totals on a spreadsheet Other areas might show more of one kind over another but this is what i find here in Syracuse NY Snowman
Hello wiggam007: Just want to personally thank you for nominating this "TRIVIA" post as "Post of the Week!" Clinker
To LSM Hi, Lou... Thanks for reading and your kind comment. You're the kind of member, that keeps me tryong to find good informative articles to help us all appreciate our "numismatic" hobby... Clinker
