In 1982, the United States Mint made a major change to the composition of the penny. Prior to that year, pennies were made from a bronze alloy that was 95% copper and 5% zinc. However, due to rising copper prices, the Mint switched to a new composition that was 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. This change was made partway through the year, so there are actually two different varieties of 1982 pennies: those made from the bronze alloy (often called “1982 large date” pennies) and those made from the zinc-based composition (often called “1982 small date” pennies).
Of the two varieties, the 1982 small date penny is the more valuable and sought-after by collectors. This is partly due to its rarity: because the Mint switched compositions partway through the year, there are fewer 1982 small date pennies in circulation than there are of the large date variety. Additionally, the 1982 small date penny has a distinct appearance that sets it apart from other pennies: the numbers in the date are smaller and closer together than those on the large date variety.
So, how many 1982 small date pennies have been found? The answer is difficult to determine with certainty, as the exact number is constantly changing as more pennies are discovered and more data is collected. However, we can look at some estimates and statistics to get an idea of the coin’s rarity.
First, it’s important to note that the 1982 small date penny is not an extremely rare or valuable coin in the grand scheme of things. While it is worth more than face value (typically a few cents to a few dollars, depending on the coin’s condition and other factors), it is not a “holy grail” of penny collecting like the 1909-S VDB or the 1955 doubled die. Nonetheless, it is a desirable coin for collectors, especially those who focus on modern coins.
One way to estimate the number of 1982 small date pennies that have been found is to look at population reports from grading services. When a coin is submitted to a grading service like PCGS or NGC, it is assigned a grade based on its condition (on a scale of 1 to 70). The grading service also keeps track of how many coins of each grade and variety it has graded, which can give us an idea of how many exist in the population. However, it’s important to note that not all coins are graded, and many 1982 small date pennies remain in circulation or in private collections, so the population reports only provide a rough estimate.
According to PCGS, as of April 2023, they have graded a total of 32,899 1982 small date pennies in all grades combined. Of those, 3,036 are graded as Mint State (uncirculated) and 29,863 are graded as circulated. The highest grade assigned to a 1982 small date penny by PCGS is MS67RD (meaning it is uncirculated and has a red color), and only one coin has been graded at this level. NGC, another major grading service, has graded a similar number of 1982 small date pennies (about 32,000 as of April 2023), with the highest grade assigned being MS68RD (meaning it is uncirculated and has a red color).
It’s worth noting that not all grading services make a distinction between the large date and small date varieties of the 1982 penny, so these population reports may include both types. Additionally, not all coins are sent to grading services, so the true number of 1982 small date pennies in existence are ver small amount .