Lincoln Memorial Cent (1982-D Large Date Small Motto)

United States · 1982

A copper-colored U.S. penny featuring Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Country: United States
Year: 1982
Denomination: One Cent ($0.01)

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified May 20, 2026More united states coins →

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Overview

A copper-colored U.S. penny featuring Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse.

Historical significance

1982 was a transition year for the U.S. penny. Materials switched from 95% copper to copper-plated zinc to save costs. Additionally, the master hubs were changed, resulting in 'Large Date' and 'Small Date' varieties for both compositions.

Obverse (front)

Profile of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Inscriptions: 'IN GOD WE TRUST', 'LIBERTY', and the date '1982' with a 'D' mint mark. This is the 'Large Date' variety.

Reverse (back)

The Lincoln Memorial. Inscriptions: 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', 'E PLURIBUS UNUM', and 'ONE CENT'. Designer Frank Gasparro's initials are visible to the right of the memorial base.

Estimated value

$0.01-$0.05 circulated; $1-$10 in uncirculated (MS) condition. The specific specimen shown has plating blisters and wear.

What drives this coin's value

Composition (Copper vs Zinc), Date Size (Large vs Small), and Condition. The 1982-D Small Date Copper is the famous 'rare' variant; this coin is the common Large Date variety.

Grade assessment

Fine to Very Fine (Circulated). Visible surface bubbling (zinc rot/plating blisters) and minor contact marks.

Mintage & rarity

Common. There were over 6 billion pennies struck at Denver in 1982. This specific variety is a common transition issue.

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Authenticity issues are rare for this common date, but the '1982-D Small Date Copper' is often faked by altering zinc coins. Use a precise scale: 3.1g is copper, 2.5g is zinc.

Notable varieties & errors

1982-D Small Date Copper (very rare/valuable), and various Doubled Die Obverses from the same year.

Similar coins

1982 Philadelphia (no mint mark) and 1982-D Small Date. Distinguishable by the shape of the '8' and the alignment of the numbers in the date.

Care & preservation

Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid cleaning, as the acidic environment or abrasives can strip the thin copper plating, exposing the zinc core which will corrode (rot) quickly.