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Lincoln cent 1982-D weighs 3.02 grams, underweight but why?

WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,268 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 22, 2024 6:00PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I received this 1982-D Lincoln cent in change a couple of days ago.

I save the copper Lincoln cents and know that in 1982 the US mints made both copper and zinc cents.

The copper cents are supposed to weigh 3.11 grams and the zinc cents 2.50 grams.

This one weighs 3.02 grams:

image
United States Lincoln cent 1982-D

The coin is discolored but doesn't look damaged or even much circulated.

To check my scale I weighed several pre-1980 cents and always got 3.11 or 3.12 grams. I also weighed some other coins and they showed correct weights.

One explanation is that the "correct" weight of 3.11 grams is an average and that these cents can weigh from 2.98 grams to 3.30 grams. However I can not find an "official" statement of this mint tolerance.

I did find a 1982-D 3.01 gram cent on Ebay which sold for $4.00 so these underweight cents do exist.

Does anyone have an explanation for the low weight?

:)

https://www.brianrxm.com
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
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Comments

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's well within tolerance for a copper cent.

    Tolerance for copper cents is .13 grams, & for copper, 2 grains.

    Take your weight of 3.02, add .13 = within tolerance

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,268 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Is the 0.13 gram tolerance stated anywhere officially?

    :)

    https://www.brianrxm.com
    The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
    Coins in Movies
    Coins on Television
  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,378 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @WillieBoyd2 said:
    Is the 0.13 gram tolerance stated anywhere officially?

    :)

    The post above yours is official enough for me. ;)

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I take my info from what I believe was
    Vol. 1 of the Mega Red Book.

    I have copies of the three pages of weights
    of all US coins, Titled "Specifications and Tolerances
    for U.S. Coins", pages 367 thru 369.

    I didn't write down the name of the book itself,
    but it appears to be a Whitman Book, and I think
    it's from the Mega book appendix/back of book.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,268 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 30, 2018 11:52AM

    Thank you for your help with this question.

    Now let's see who has the lightest or heaviest 1982 cent.

    :)

    https://www.brianrxm.com
    The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
    Coins in Movies
    Coins on Television
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,710 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Chart in Coin World Almanac says weight tolerance 1.9 grains, which would be 0.123 grams.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • pmacpmac Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭

    Could be a counterfeit. ;)

    Paul
  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My sheet published by U.S. Government (revised in 1976) only goes to 1962 (same standard for copper cents up to Zinc alloy) gives 3.11 grams with .130 tolerance which confirms what Mr. Weinberg posted.

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,924 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's not a counterfeit.

    It's well within tolerance.

    Nothing special about it at all.

    .....sorry

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, the Mega Red Book has weights and tolerances... I have used it as well... Overall, the Mega is a fantastic reference book. Cheers, RickO

  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What @FredWeinberg said in his posts!

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