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The Global Insight

How much are 1983 copper pennies worth?

Author

James Olson

Updated on April 10, 2026

The 1983 doubled die penny is worth thousands of times more than face value. Specifically: At least $15 to $20 in well-worn circulated grades. $250+ in uncirculated condition.

How many 1983 copper pennies are there?

Especially, since the U.S Mint struck over 14 billion 1983 Lincoln Cent for circulation at the Philadelphia and Denver Mint combined. Few variety or error coins from the Memorial Cent series have caught the attention of non-collectors or even the media’s.

Were there any copper pennies made in 1983?

Mint has ever made. At least one 1983 copper penny, an issue made at the Denver (D) Mint, was made from a planchet identified by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as 98% copper, 2% zinc — which is vastly different from the 95% copper, 5% zinc format the U.S. Mint used for decades.

What are the most valuable copper pennies?

From wheat pennies to Indian heads, below Bellevue Rare Coins presents the Top 5 Most Valuable Pennies to ever make it into circulation.

  • 1.1944 Steel Wheat Penny.
  • 2.1943 Copper Wheat Penny.
  • 3.1873 Indian Head Penny.
  • 4.1914 D Wheat Penny.
  • 5.1877 Indian Head Penny.

What year did they stop using copper in pennies?

1982
The alloy remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper (copper-plated zinc). Cents of both compositions appeared in that year. The penny’s original design was suggested by Ben Franklin.

Are 1982 copper pennies valuable?

The 1982 obverse doubled die copper large date penny is also valuable, but it’s worth considerably less than the small date zinc double die. A piece of the other 1982 penny varieties in uncirculated grade is worth $2 to $4.

What kind of copper is in a 1983 Lincoln Memorial Penny?

“Transitional” errors occurred in the Lincoln Memorial Cents series when the Mint accidentally used solid copper blanks to make a few pennies in 1983.These “wrong stock” pennies weigh 3.11 grams, rather than the 2.5 of the copper-plated zinc cents. If you find a solid copper 1983, it just might be worth…

When was the last year a penny was made of copper?

The last year pennies were made of copper was 1982. However, the penny composition material used to make a penny has changed over the years. Compositions of the penny are listed below: 1793-1837 – Pure copper. 1837-1857 – Bronze (95% copper, 5% mixture of tin and zinc).

What’s the difference between a copper penny and a zinc penny?

Drop each one onto the table, listening to its distinctive sound. Zinc pennies have sort of a flat “clunk,” whereas copper pennies have a higher-pitched, more melodious “ring” sound.

What makes pre 1983 pennies so special?

Pre-1983 pennies are popular because they have a higher copper content. As a result, many investors are interested in using these coins as part of an effort to invest in tangible base metals.