Treasure Hunt is On in Michigan for a 1982 Penny

Our beloved Penny is no more as production has ended. Yep, no more pennies.

Beloved may be an overstatement, but if you happen to find THE penny, then it will be more than beloved, it will be cherished because it could be worth LOTS of money.

It is a rare 1982 penny, and if you find the real deal it could be worth between $15,000 and $19,000 or more and that is why people all over Michigan and the country are madly digging through all their loose change, checking all the furniture in the house, scouring their cars, anywhere, to try to find this rare coin.

What is the deal here?

1982 was a pivotal year in making a penny. Copper prices were rising and the mint decided to make the penny out of mostly zinc. However, they still produced many out of copper, and that is where the excitement comes.

 👇 BELOW: MICHIGAN CITIES PRINTED THEIR OWN MONEY YEARS AGO! 👇

According to the website 1982 Penny.com, more than 15 billion pennies were minted that year, however, instead of waiting until 1983 to change, the mint began the transition mid '82. "While most of these coins are common, a few rare combinations of date style, composition, and mint mark are now among the most sought-after Lincoln cents in existence."

According to our sister station, KPEL 96.5, here is what you need to look for.

1. The Date The Penny Was Produced - The very first thing to look for when it comes to this penny is the date. It must have been minted in 1982, absolutely no exceptions.

If your penny has 1983 stamped on it, you can move on.

2. 1982 Penny Mint Mark - Located directly below the year 1982 you want to see the letter "D".
This mint mark means the penny was minted in Denver, Colorado.

3. 1982 Penny Weight - This is also another important thing to get exactly right. The penny must weigh roughly 3.1 grams.

4.1982 Small Date Penny - OK, if you've checked the boxes of the first 3 indicators, it all comes down to this last one.

What you're looking for is what's called a "Small Date" as opposed to a "Large Date" penny. You're looking for noticeably smaller letters and numbers on this penny compared to a standard penny.

My eyes are tired just thinking about this, so good luck while I ransack my house!