1982 Bronze Large Date

The 1982 Bronze Large Date is one of the most historically significant coins in the Lincoln Memorial series. The year 1982 marked a fundamental change in the composition of the American cent. For decades, the penny had been struck in an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc (often called "bronze" or "brass" by collectors). By the early 1980s, the rising price of copper meant that each cent cost more to produce than its face value. The Mint needed a cheaper alternative.

The solution was copper-plated zinc: a core of 97.5% zinc with a thin plating of 2.5% copper. The new coins looked identical to the old ones but weighed noticeably less (2.5 grams versus 3.1 grams for bronze). The transition happened mid-year in 1982, meaning both compositions were produced simultaneously.

To complicate matters further, 1982 cents also come in two date sizes: Large Date and Small Date. The combination of two compositions and two date sizes, across two mints, produced seven distinct varieties for 1982. The Bronze Large Date from Philadelphia is the more traditional version, identical in composition to every cent struck since 1864. It carries no mintmark and shares the combined Philadelphia mintage of over 10.7 billion pieces across all 1982 varieties. Collectors who want to own the "last of the copper pennies" often start here.