$ 15.900 do have 1982 Lincoln Penny mint error coin value and price rare.

The image you’ve provided, showing a 1982 Lincoln Cent, hints at one of the most sought-after and valuable modern error coins in numismatics: the 1982-D Small Date Copper Transitional Error Penny. The year 1982 marks a pivotal and complex time in the history of the Lincoln Cent, as the U.S. Mint transitioned the penny’s composition from the traditional 95% copper alloy to a less expensive copper-plated zinc alloy due to rising copper costs. This change created seven different varieties of 1982 cents, but the rarest—and most valuable—are the “transitional errors” where the old copper planchets were accidentally struck with dies intended for the new zinc coins.

The coin that can command a value approaching the figure you mentioned, such as the reported auction sales for thousands and even over $15,000 (with a similar piece selling for $18,800 in 2017), is specifically the 1982-D Small Date Copper Cent.

Understanding the Rarity

• The Transitional Error: Before 1982, cents were 95% copper and weighed approximately 3.11 grams. The new cents were 97.5% zinc and weighed about 2.5 grams. The extremely rare 1982-D Copper Small Date cent is a transitional error created when an old, heavier copper planchet (3.11 grams) was mistakenly fed into the press and struck with a die intended for the new, lighter zinc cents, which featured the “Small Date” design.
• Extreme Scarcity: This particular error coin, the 1982-D Small Date Copper variety, is considered one of the rarest of the modern cents. As of recent reports, only two confirmed specimens of the 1982-D Small Date Copper Cent are officially known to exist. This extreme scarcity is the primary driver of its high value. One of these rare coins, graded AU-58, sold for $18,800 in 2017, and another, also graded AU-58, sold for $10,800.

How to Identify the Highly Valuable 1982-D Small Date Copper Error

The coin pictured must meet four specific criteria to be this rare and valuable transitional error:

1. Date: It must be dated 1982.
2. Mint Mark: It must have the “D” mint mark below the date, indicating it was struck at the Denver Mint. The visible coin in your photo is a 1982 cent, but the ‘D’ mint mark cannot be confirmed from this angle, making this a critical step for potential value.
3. Date Style (“Small Date”): There are two date styles for 1982 cents: Large and Small. The rare transitional error has the Small Date variety, which is distinguished by a noticeably smaller upper loop on the ‘8’ compared to the lower loop, and a slightly curved, or “crooked,” diagonal line in the ‘2’. The more common Large Date has equal-sized loops on the ‘8’ and a straighter diagonal on the ‘2’.
4. Weight (Copper Composition): This is the most crucial, definitive test. The coin must be made of the old 95% copper alloy, which means it will weigh approximately 3.11 grams. The common zinc cents weigh only about 2.5 grams. Accurate weighing is essential to confirm the copper composition and the coin’s status as the rare transitional error.

While the coin in your image clearly shows a 1982 cent, its true value depends entirely on confirming it possesses the “D” mint mark, the “Small Date” style, and the copper weight of 3.11 grams. Finding this specific combination is like searching for a numismatic needle in a haystack, but the potential reward—a coin valued in the tens of thousands of dollars—makes the hunt for the 1982-D Small Date Copper Penny a fascinating endeavor for collectors.