Rare Coins Daily Rare coin guides and inquiries

MEMORIAL PENNY

SORT LIST 1959–2008
DDO • DDR • RPM • CLOSE AM • WIDE AM • 1982 COPPER/ZINC TRANSITION
SORTING LEGEND
P1Pull Immediately / Authenticate
P2Check Carefully / Better Variety
P3Common Date / Condition Pull
DDODoubled Die Obverse
DDRDoubled Die Reverse
RPMRepunched Mintmark
CAMClose AM Reverse
WAMWide AM Reverse
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
Microscope
or 10x loupe
0.01g
Scale
Good
Lighting
Reference
Guide
1 P1 MONEY COINS / AUTHENTICATE
DateMintPriorityPrimary Check
1969-S DDOSP1DDO motto, LIBERTY, date
1972 DDO—P1DDO strong obverse doubling
1982-D Small Date CopperDP1Small date + about 3.11g
1983 DDR—P1DDR reverse lettering
1992 Close AM—P1CAM A/M nearly touch
1992-D Close AMDP1CAM A/M nearly touch
1999 Wide AM—P1WAM clear A/M gap
2 1982 COPPER / ZINC TRANSITION
1982 VarietyMintPriorityWeight
Large Date Copper—P2about 3.11g
Small Date Copper—P2about 3.11g
Large Date Zinc—P3about 2.50g
Small Date Zinc—P3about 2.50g
D Large Date CopperDP2about 3.11g
D Large Date ZincDP3about 2.50g
D Small Date ZincDP3about 2.50g
D Small Date CopperDP1about 3.11g; authenticate

DO NOT GUESS BY COLOR

Copper/bronze cents weigh about 3.11g. Copper-plated zinc cents weigh about 2.50g.
3 AM REVERSE DIAGNOSTICS
DateMintPriorityReverse Type
1992 Close AM—P1A and M nearly touch
1992-D Close AMDP1A and M nearly touch
1998 Wide AM—P2Proof-style reverse
1999 Wide AM—P1Best Wide AM pull
2000 Wide AM—P2Proof-style reverse
AMERICA SPACING CHECK

Close AM: A and M nearly touch. Important on 1992 and 1992-D.

Wide AM: visible gap between A and M. Important on 1998, 1999, and 2000.

4 P1 IMAGE GALLERY — OBVERSE + REVERSE PLACEHOLDERS

1969-S DDO

1969-S DDO obverse placeholderObverse
1969-S DDO reverse placeholderReverse

Check: strong doubling on motto, LIBERTY, and date. Authenticate before selling.

1972 DDO

1972 DDO obverse placeholderObverse
1972 DDO reverse placeholderReverse

Check: strong obverse doubling. Type 1 is the famous major variety.

1982-D Small Date Copper

1982-D Small Date Copper obverse placeholderObverse
1982-D Small Date Copper reverse placeholderReverse

Check: Denver mint, small date, copper weight about 3.11g.

1983 DDR

1983 DDR obverse placeholderObverse
1983 DDR reverse placeholderReverse

Check: ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on reverse.

1992 Close AM

1992 Close AM obverse placeholderObverse
1992 Close AM reverse placeholderReverse

Check: AM in AMERICA nearly touching.

1992-D Close AM

1992-D Close AM obverse placeholderObverse
1992-D Close AM reverse placeholderReverse

Check: Denver mint + Close AM reverse.

1999 Wide AM

1999 Wide AM obverse placeholderObverse
1999 Wide AM reverse placeholderReverse

Check: clear gap between A and M. Strongest Wide AM pull.

Major Error Pulls

Lincoln cent error obverse placeholderObverse
Lincoln cent error reverse placeholderReverse

Check: off-center strikes, clips, broadstrikes, wrong planchet, major die breaks.

PLAIN ENGLISH DEFINITIONS

DDO

Doubled Die Obverse. Check date, LIBERTY, motto.

DDR

Doubled Die Reverse. Check Memorial and reverse lettering.

RPM

Repunched Mintmark. Most useful before 1990.

CLOSE AM

A and M nearly touch on AMERICA.

WIDE AM

A and M have a clear gap.

COPPER

Bronze/copper cent, about 3.11g.

ZINC

Copper-plated zinc cent, about 2.50g.

RD / RED

Original red copper color. Best for grade premiums.
Notice Updated