2017-06-03 Sat

The U.S. Mint did not want to strike the 1982-D Lincoln, Small Date Cent produced on a 95 percent copper planchet, however it will be the featured lot in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ American Numismatic Association convention auction in August.

No other example of that combination exists today. A Denver Mint strike in the traditional composition produced from an obverse die from the new hub introduced in 1982 — had been known.

The first known example of a 1982-D Lincoln, Small Date brass cent was certified early this year. But the grading service is of another opinion and doesn’t consider the coin to be a true eight variant. The 1982-D brass cent falls into the famous 1943 Lincoln copper cent category. The World War II era cent has a long history, making it extremely desirable and costly.

In 1982, these coins were struck in two compositions: the traditional 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc, and the new and more economical copper-plated zinc. In mid-1982, the Mint made an obverse hub change, which gave birth to two variants of different relief and sharpness of letters. The collectors defined it as the large date version and the small date version.

When 1982 had ended, the four production facilities of the U.S. Mint had struck these seven circulation variants: 1982 Large Date, Brass; 1982 Small Date, Brass; 1982-D Large Date, Brass; 1982 Large Date, Copper-Plated Zinc; 1982 Small Date, Copper-Plated Zinc; 1982-D Large Date, Copper-Plated Zinc; and 1982-D Small Date , Copper-Plated Zinc.

It should be noted that the Philadelphia Mint, San Francisco Mint and West Point facility all struck identical 1982 cents lacking a Mint mark.

Instead of putting a stop to the 95 percent copper cents production, Mint decided that it would strike the Cents of both compositions concurrently. The U.S. Mint officials also confirmed that no cents were struck at the Denver Mint. But that didn’t deter the collectors from seeking an example of the eight variant.

Numismatic Guaranty Corp. graded the unique coin about Uncirculated 58 and identified the piece as the “Discovery Coin” on the slab label. The coin weighs 3.08 grams, slightly below the standard of 3.11 grams.

The coin will be offered during the Stack’s Bowers Galleries auction at the ANA World’s Fair of Money this August in Denver.