This is partially due to the fact that unlike the formerly silver denominations (dollar, half dollar, quarter, and dime), the composition of the pre-1982 cent, nearly pure copper, is not so much more valuable over face value for it to be hoarded to the extreme extent of the silver denominations. Some dates are rare, but many can still be found in circulation. The wheat cent was mainstream and common during its time.However, cents minted from 1944 to 1946 were made from a special salvaged WWII brass composition to replace the steel cents, but still save material for the war effort, and are more common in circulation than their 1943 counterparts. These "steel pennies" are not likely to be found in circulation today, as they were later intentionally removed from circulation for recycling the metal and by collectors. Cents minted in 1943 were struck on planchets punched from zinc-coated steel which left the resulting edges uncoated.
Both types were minted in 1982 with no distinguishing mark.
See article: America the Beautiful quarters Most such coins that still exist are now in the hands of collectors and museums. The CC, O, C, and D mint marks were used on gold and silver coins for various periods from the mid-19th century until the early 20th century by temporary mints in Carson City, Nevada New Orleans, Louisiana Charlotte, North Carolina and Dahlonega, Georgia. S and W coins are rarely, found in general circulation, although S coins bearing dates prior to the mid-1970s are in circulation. Denver coins bear a letter D, San Francisco coins bear a letter S, and West Point coins bear a letter W. Among marked coins, Philadelphia coins bear a letter P. Unmarked coins are issued by the Philadelphia mint. The identifying letter of the mint can be found on the front side of most coins, and is often placed near the year. The producing mint of each coin may be easily identified, as most coins bear a mint mark. The proof and mint sets are manufactured each year and contain examples of all of the year's circulating coins. Philadelphia and Denver produce the dies used at all of the mints. The West Point Mint produces bullion coinage (including proofs). The San Francisco Mint produces regular and silver proof coinage, and produced circulating coinage until the 1970s. The Denver Mint also produces circulating coinage, mint sets and commemoratives. The main mint is the Philadelphia Mint, which produces circulating coinage, mint sets and some commemorative coins. You can enlarge the images by clicking on them as well.Today, four mints operate in the United States producing billions of coins each year. Also, I added the worlds largest gold bar and worlds largest gold coin along with their respective intrinisic metal and melt values. I listed some of the most common types of bars or ingots that are used in bullion investments. These are purely bullion investments which consists of grain bars, gram bars, kilo bars and ounce bars. This section shows how much typical gold bar and ingot values are. View the following link: Gold Coin Melt Value Calculator. The current precious metal gold spot price is automatically inputted into the calculator but you can also change this to different prices as well. Choose from any gold coin ever made in US history and enter the quantity of coins you own. Use this calculator to find the value of your gold coins. One Ounce $50 Gold American Buffalo (2006 - present)
Half Ounce $25 Gold American Buffalo (2008) Quarter Ounce $10 Gold American Buffalo (2008) Tenth Ounce $5 Gold American Buffalo (2008) One Ounce $50 American Gold Eagle (1986-Present) Half Ounce $25 American Gold Eagle (1986-Present)
Quarter Ounce $10 American Gold Eagle (1986-Present) Tenth Ounce $5 American Gold Eagle (1986-Present) Saint Gaudens Gold $20 Double Eagle (1907-1933) Large Indian Head Gold Dollars (1856-1889) Small Indian Head Gold Dollars (1854-1856)