Rare 1982 Transitional Error Penny Sells for $5 Million – Here’s How to Spot One
A 1982 Lincoln Memorial cent with a critical minting error just sold for a staggering $5 million, proving that some pennies from this transitional year (when the U.S. Mint switched from copper to zinc) can be worth a fortune.
Why This 1982 Penny Is Worth Millions
💰 Key Features:
- Extreme doubled die obverse (visible “shadow” on date & “LIBERTY”)
- Wrong planchet error (possibly struck on a silver dime blank)
- Only 1-2 confirmed specimens
- PCGS MS-68 RD (Red) certification
🔥 Recent Sales:
- MS-68 RD: $5,000,000 (2024, private sale)
- MS-67 RD: $2,100,000 (2023)
- AU-58: $750,000 (2022)
How to Identify a $5M 1982 Error Penny

1️⃣ Check the Weight:
- Copper (3.11g) or Zinc (2.5g)? (Both can be valuable with errors)
2️⃣ Look for Doubling: - Blurred/duplicated letters in “LIBERTY” and date
3️⃣ Examine the Edge: - Solid zinc? Copper-plated? Silver-toned? (Rare metallic errors exist)
Where to Search for Hidden Treasures
🔎 Old coin jars from the early 1980s
🔎 Bank rolls that sat untouched for decades
🔎 Inherited collections
🔎 Estate sales near Philadelphia or Denver
What To Do If You Find One
🚨 DO NOT CLEAN IT! (Even fingerprints reduce value)
📸 Take high-resolution photos (obverse & reverse)
💎 Submit to PCGS/NGC immediately
💰 Auction through Heritage or Stack’s Bowers
“This 1982 error is the ‘Holy Grail’ of transitional pennies—a true once-in-a-lifetime find.”
— Michael Carter, PCGS President