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1992 Close AM
| Weight | 2.5 g |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 4,648,905,000 Combined mintage for all 1992 Philadelphia varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | Copper-plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper) |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-731 |
Collection
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Other recorded varieties for 1992:
External references
The 1992 Close AM is a widely collected variety identified by the spacing of the letters "A" and "M" in "AMERICA" on the reverse. On the standard 1992 circulation cent, the "A" and "M" are spaced apart (Wide AM), consistent with the design used on business strikes. The Close AM variety, where the bases of the two letters nearly touch, was the design intended for proof dies, not circulation dies.
Somehow, a proof-style reverse die was paired with a circulation-strike obverse die at the Philadelphia Mint, producing cents with the Close AM configuration on what is otherwise a normal business strike. The error is visible under low magnification and, for practiced eyes, can be spotted without magnification by comparing the spacing to a known Wide AM example.
The 1992 Close AM is scarce. Estimates of surviving examples number in the hundreds to low thousands, making it a meaningful variety without being impossibly rare. The coin commands a solid premium in all grades, with mint-state examples bringing particularly strong prices. Authentication by a grading service is recommended, as the difference in letter spacing can be subtle to untrained eyes.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | — | — |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | — | — |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | — | — |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How many 1992 Close AM Lincoln Memorial Cents were minted?
What is a 1992 Close AM Lincoln Memorial Cent made of?
What is the melt value of a 1992 Close AM Lincoln Memorial Cent?
Is the 1992 Close AM Lincoln Memorial Cent a key date?
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