1982 D Small Date Penny
CodyO85
Posts: 8 ✭
Hello! I'm am new to coin collecting. I went through an old bottle of coins that I've had since I was a kid. I came across this 1982 D small date penny. I just figured it was a zinc penny. I weighed it and it weighed 3g. My scale doesn't do decimals in grams, so I weighed it in oz. and weighed .11oz which converts to 3.1g. I compared it to large dates pennies to make sure it was a small date. I called a coin shop to ask them about it and they told me that the penny was worth 30 cents and was not rare and that he has rolls of these pennies (kind of discouraging). I can still get it certified as long as it proves it is 1982, Denver mint, small date, and weighs 3.1g which should be copper. Regardless if they think its rare or not right? 
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Comments
A 1982-D small date bronze cent would be a very valuable coin, but that is probably not what you have, as they are extremely rare.
If you want to be sure, spend the $10 or $15 to buy a digital scale that weighs down to 0.01g. In the unlikely event that the coin still weighs 3g, it's worth sending in to PCGS for certification.
Welcome.
The folks from whom you seek advice will ask for a photo of the reverse and a photo of the coin on a digital scale.
I cannot determine if it is solid bronze by looking at it.
I wish you luck, it would be exciting to see that you are right. If I were as sure as you and owned it, I would submit it for a grade.
Welcome to the forum.
The coin has the appearance of a zinc example. I suggest finding a precise scale to use and checking the weight again. You might want to try a jeweler or coin dealer.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Looking at the fields, it looks like a zincoin. You really need a scale that reads two decimal points
if you are going to weigh coins.
There is no doubt that your coin has the usual platting bumps and blisters that are seen on the zinc core cent. Many have been down this rabbit hole due to an inaccurate or improperly calibrated scale.
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A cheap digital scale would work. It appears to have the plating bubbles of a copper plated zinc cent thou.
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This is around $10 on eBay. Welcome.
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Welcome to the forum!
Looks like a zinc cent, sorry.
Update. I purchased a gram scale and turns out it weighs 2.54g. Thank you all for the comments. On to the next!