What are 1982 pennies made of?

Will a magnet stick to a copper penny?

COPPER / BRASS / BRONZE

Copper is not magnetic. Brass is a mixture (alloy) of copper and mostly zinc (zinc is not magnetic). Bronze is a mixture (alloy) of mostly copper with about 12% tin, and sometimes small amounts of nickel (nickel can make it very slightly magnetic but, generally, bronze is not magnetic).

Is a steel penny worth anything?

The value of a 1943 steel penny, as of 2025, typically ranges from 20 cents to $20, depending on its condition and mint mark. Rare error coins, like the 1943-D steel penny with a doubled mintmark, can be worth several hundred dollars.

Why is a 1982 penny worth $10,000 today?

This weight discrepancy is due to a rare occurrence where a penny was mistakenly struck on a mostly copper planchet instead of the usual zinc-coated copper. According to Couch, a penny of this kind was sold at auction “for over $10,000,” showcasing the incredible value that can come from this seemingly ordinary coin.

Should I keep pre-1982 pennies?

There's no need to hold onto your pennies now, hoping for a big cash out in the future, according to Harker, who explained that even older pennies aren't worth more than a couple of cents. “Pre-1982 pennies are copper and have value for their copper content. Many retail coin shops will pay $. 03 - $.

How much is a 1982 copper penny worth today?

This is a cool find, the 1982 copper penny is a very collectible coin. The value ranges pretty wildly, some as low as $5 and really rare ones in the thousands. After evaluating your coin, I'd place its value at roughly $30-60. However you could increase that or at least know for sure what you have by getting it graded.

Why are 1999 pennies worth $4,500?

It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side. As for the tails side, that's where you have to look closely.

Should I clean a 1982 penny?

Pennies minted before 1982 are primarily copper, whereas those minted after 1982 are mostly zinc coated with copper. Copper pennies tolerate cleaning well, but the thin copper layer on zinc-based pennies can easily be damaged if cleaning is too aggressive, requiring gentler techniques.

What penny has the most copper in it?

The U.S. penny was last issued with a 100% copper composition in 1857. Nickel was added to the Flying Eagle penny in 1856 in hopes of increasing durability while also decreasing costs and 88% copper, 12% nickel pennies were in production until 1864. This composition is also known as nickel silver or German silver.

What if my 1982 penny weighs 3.1 grams?

What you have is a 1982 small date cent in the brass (95% copper, 5% zinc) alloy with an official weight of 3.11 grams that was discontinued in the latter part of that year and replaced with the current copper-plated zinc (official weight 2.5 grams) composition.

Should I save all copper pennies?

Why should I save Copper Alloy cents/pennies? Some 1982 and all prior years are made with 95% copper. With copper at historic high prices, each of these coins are worth much more in actual metal content, than their face value.

Why is the 1943 penny worth $1,000,000?

This rare 1943 Lincoln cent is only 1 of 15 known in the world. Photograph courtesy of The Money Museum. This rare cent is one of approximately 15 examples found in circulation. Known as error coins, these rare pennies were made using copper instead of zinc, and were never intended to be struck.

Which years of pennies are rare?

7 Most Rare Pennies — and What Makes Them Unique

• 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. ...
• 1864 Indian Head Penny – "L" on Ribbon. ...
• 1909-P and 1909-S VDB Lincoln Pennies. ...
• 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy. ...
• 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny. ...
• 1969-S Lincoln Penny – Doubled Die Obverse. ...
• 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Cent.

Is there anything special about a 1982 D penny?

The 1982 D penny, minted at the Denver Mint, is notable for its transition from copper to copper-plated zinc. This change introduced two primary compositions for the penny in that year: the copper version, which is 95% copper, and the zinc version, which is 97.5% zinc.

Should I clean old pennies?

Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning. If you do polish a coin to remove dirt, use mild soap and water.

What penny is worth $250000 today?

Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth, at most, between $100,000 and $250,000, Feigenbaum said.

How can I identify a rare penny?

How to tell if an old penny is worth money

1. Check the Year: The minting year can tell much about a penny's value.
2. Inspect for Errors: Errors, like double dies or wrong metal use, can significantly increase a penny's value.
3. Look at the Mint Mark: The Mint Mark shows where a coin was minted.