1982 Canadian 1-Cent (Penny) Value Guide

The 1982 Canadian cent marks a structural milestone in the denomination's history: it was the first year of issue for the dodecagonal (12-sided) planchet, replacing the round design used since the nineteenth century. The shape change was a functional mandate designed to help visually impaired Canadians distinguish the penny from the similarly sized dime. Alongside this structural change, the rim's traditional denticles were replaced with beads — small distinct dots — creating the Large Beads and Small Beads die varieties that define variety collecting for this date. Despite rising copper costs that led the United States Mint to abandon copper partway through 1982, the Royal Canadian Mint retained its full bronze composition for the entire 1982 production run. For the complete denomination history across all years, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.

Note: Production errors exist for 1982 — including coins struck on incorrect planchets — but they are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

1982 Canadian 1-cent obverse (Queen Elizabeth II, Machin Second Portrait with tiara) and reverse (maple leaf twig by G.E. Kruger-Gray), with the distinctive 12-sided edge and bead border highlighted.

1982 Canadian Penny Composition & Melt Value

Alloy Composition

The 1982 Canadian cent is struck from bronze: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, and 0.25% zinc. This alloy had been used for Canadian cents for decades, and 1982 marks its application to the new 12-sided planchet. Crucially, unlike the United States — which transitioned its cent to copper-plated zinc partway through 1982 — Canada maintained the full bronze formulation for the entire 1982 production run. This means there is no compositional ambiguity for 1982 Canadian cents: if it is dated 1982 and Canadian, it is bronze, without exception. No weight test or drop test is needed to determine composition.

Magnetic Properties

A genuine 1982 Canadian cent is non-magnetic. The 98% copper alloy does not respond to a magnet. This single test is the first line of authentication: if a 1982-dated Canadian cent sticks to a magnet, it is either a counterfeit or an error coin struck on a foreign steel planchet. Canada did not introduce steel-core planchets for the one-cent denomination until later in the series. See the Identification Guide for the full magnet test procedure.

Melt Value (February 2026)

As of February 2026, elevated copper spot prices have pushed the intrinsic value of the 1982 bronze cent well above its face value. Using a copper spot price of approximately $6.05 USD per pound (converted at approximately $8.47 CAD per pound, or $0.0187 CAD per gram), the melt value is calculated as:

2.50 g × 0.98 (Cu purity) × $0.0187 CAD/g ≈ $0.046 CAD (~4.6 cents)

This melt value is more than 4.5 times the face value of $0.01. The practical market consequences are significant. Circulated examples in grades G4 through approximately AU50 are effectively bullion coins whose floor value is their copper content rather than collector demand. No informed seller parts with bulk 1982 cents at face value, and large-scale hoarding has removed millions of examples from potential collector supply. Melt value calculation is based on commodity data from IndexBox copper futures pricing (February 2026) and the Royal Canadian Mint's official specifications.

1982 Canadian Penny Value Chart by Grade & Finish

All values in CAD as of February 2026. Business Strike prices assume Full Red (RD) color designation for MS63 and above; Red-Brown (RB) and Brown (BN) coins trade at a significant discount at uncirculated grades. Four finish types are documented for 1982.

Visual guide to the four 1982 Canadian penny finish types: Business Strike (cartwheel luster), Proof-Like (brilliant mirror fields), Specimen (lined/matte fields with frosted devices), and Proof (deep mirror fields with heavy cameo frost). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1982 Canadian Penny — Business Strike (Circulation)

Mintage: approximately 876,036,898 to 911,001,000 (Ottawa and Winnipeg combined, two sources give differing estimates). Business strikes are abundant in circulated grades but achieve condition-rarity status at MS65 and above, because the 12-sided planchet's corners are prone to bag marks during high-speed mint production and bagging.

Grade comparison for the 1982 Canadian penny business strike: worn circulated (left), MS63 with minor contact marks (center), and MS65 Gem Red (right) showing the dramatic ~40× value jump at the Gem threshold. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1982 Canadian Penny — Proof-Like (PL)

Mintage: 203,287. Distributed in "Uncirculated Sets" packaged in flat cellophane/pliofilm with red or blue card inserts. PL coins feature brilliant mirror fields and brilliant (unfrosted) devices, struck at higher pressure than business strikes but without the frosted device contrast of Specimen or Proof strikes. Despite the lower mintage relative to the business strike, values are modest because entire 1982 Uncirculated Sets can be purchased intact for under $10.00.

1982 Canadian Penny — Specimen (SP)

Mintage: approximately 180,000 (estimated; the official figure is undetermined, with a reported frequency of approximately 0.09% of total 1982 cent production). Found exclusively in leather-bound "Prestige" or "Double Dollar" sets. Specimen coins are double-struck on specially prepared planchets and display matte or lined background fields with frosted, sharp-edged devices — a finish distinct from the brilliant uniformity of Proof-Like coins.

1982 Canadian Penny — Proof (PR)

Mintage: 180,908. Found in black "Prestige Proof Sets." The 1982 Proof cent is struck to a deep cameo standard: black mirror fields with white heavily frosted devices. These represent the finest numismatic expression of the 1982 cent's die work, and PR69 Deep Cameo examples are actively pursued by registry set collectors.

Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. Sources: Coins and Canada (2026) for MS, SP, and PR grade-level pricing; NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 132 for low-grade baseline and Proof upper tiers. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1982 Canadian Penny Varieties

The 1982 Canadian cent has one dominant variety split — Large Beads vs. Small Beads — that is recognized by the Charlton Standard Catalogue and grading services including ICCS and PCGS. This is not a random error but a catalogued die variety arising from the use of two distinct reverse dies during the production run.

A. Trophy-Level: Highest Documented Values

These results combine variety rarity with condition rarity and require third-party certification to achieve the premiums listed. Auction-realized prices for the finest known examples can exceed standard catalogue values.

B. Findable Variety: The Bead Diagnostic

The Small Beads variety is the single most important thing to check on any 1982 Canadian cent. It is attributed to the use of a different reverse die — potentially a mule with 1981 dies — during a portion of the production run. It is catalogued in the Coin World Canadian values reference with documented rarity and premium data.

How to check: Use a 5× or 10× loupe. On the obverse (Queen's side), locate the letter A in REGINA. Visually follow the apex (top point) of the letter downward toward the rim. If that imaginary line leads into the empty space between two beads — you have Small Beads. If it leads directly at a bead — standard Large Beads. On Small Beads examples, the beads themselves also appear slightly smaller and are positioned marginally further from the rim edge. If you identify Small Beads, place the coin in a non-PVC holder immediately and consider third-party grading; the premium at MS63 ($90.00) and above justifies certification costs.

The definitive bead test: examine the letter "A" in REGINA on the obverse. If the apex points BETWEEN two rim beads — Small Beads (scarce, $55–$250+). If the apex points AT a rim bead — Large Beads (standard, base value). A 5×–10× loupe makes this check straightforward.

1982 Canadian Penny Identification Guide

Use this 30-second checklist to determine exactly what type of 1982 cent you have and whether it warrants further study or professional grading.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Obverse — Queen's Portrait: The 1982 cent shows Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" Tiara. This is the Second Portrait by Arnold Machin, used from 1965 through 1989. The legend reads ELIZABETH II D·G·REGINA with the date 1982 at the bottom.
2. Shape — 12 Sides: Run a fingertip slowly along the edge. A genuine 1982 Canadian cent has 12 flat facets, not a continuous curve. A perfectly round coin dated 1982 would indicate a misdated coin or an error — not a standard issue.
3. Reverse Design: The reverse displays the maple leaf twig by G.E. Kruger-Gray, with CANADA above and 1 CENT below. The rim features beads (small round dots), not the pointed denticles found on pre-1982 round cents.
4. No Documented Mint Marks: The 1982 Canadian cent bears no mint mark regardless of whether it was struck in Ottawa or Winnipeg. Standard Canadian circulation coins of this era do not carry facility identifiers. No "W" or other mark is documented for this year.
5. Magnet Test — Composition Verification: Touch the coin with a strong magnet. A genuine 1982 bronze cent will NOT stick — the 98% copper alloy is non-magnetic. If the coin adheres to the magnet, it is not a standard 1982 Canadian cent and should be treated as a suspected counterfeit or striking anomaly.
6. Finish Identification:
   • Business Strike: Cartwheel luster — light rotates around the coin like spokes on a wheel when the coin is tilted. Normal contact marks expected in circulated grades.
   • Proof-Like (PL): Mirror-like background fields, brilliant (unfrosted) devices. Typically came in flat cellophane/pliofilm packaging. Check for green PVC residue from aging plastic.
   • Specimen (SP): Matte or lined background fields with frosted, sharply struck devices. Squared rims visible under magnification. Came in leather-bound "Double Dollar" or "Prestige" booklet cases.
   • Proof (PR): Deep mirror (black) fields with heavily frosted (white) cameo devices — the strongest possible contrast. Came in black "Prestige Proof Set" boxes.
7. Color Assessment (Bronze Coins): Under good incandescent or LED lighting, assess how much original red-orange color the coin retains:
   • RD (Red): 95% or more original mint orange-red color — required for full MS65 and above valuations.
   • RB (Red-Brown): A mix of original color and brown oxidation — significant value discount in uncirculated grades.
   • BN (Brown): Fully oxidized to brown — minimal collector value unless the coin is the Small Beads variety, where even BN examples carry a premium in all grades.
8. Bead Variety Check: With a 5×–10× loupe, locate the letter A in REGINA. Follow the apex toward the rim. Points at a bead = Large Beads (common). Points between beads = Small Beads (scarce — see Variants section for values and full diagnostic).

The magnet test: a genuine 1982 Canadian bronze cent does NOT respond to a magnet. The 98% copper alloy is non-magnetic. If the coin sticks, it is not a standard 1982 Canadian cent.

Bronze coin color grades for the 1982 Canadian penny: RD (Full Red — bright orange, 95%+ original color), RB (Red-Brown — partial toning), and BN (Brown — fully oxidized). Full Red (RD) is required for MS65 and above valuations at standard price levels. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1982 Canadian Penny Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect typical retail market prices for problem-free, standard (non-error) 1982 Canadian 1-cent coins as of February 2026. All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Primary sources:

• Coins and Canada — 1 Cent 1965–2012 Price Guide: Primary pricing matrix for MS, SP, and PR grades.
• NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 132 (1982–1989): Low-grade bullion baseline and Proof upper-tier valuations.
• Coin World — Canadian Values Reference: Small Beads / Large Beads variety premiums and relative rarity data.
• Numista — 1 Cent Elizabeth II (2nd portrait, 12-sided): Mintage data and specification confirmation.
• PCGS Auction Price Archive — 1982 1¢ Bronze: High-grade auction context and Proof valuations.
• George Manz Coins / Geoffrey Bell Auctions: Small Beads high-end auction realization context.
• Royal Canadian Mint — 1-Cent Official Page: Official specifications and historical context.
• IndexBox — Copper Futures Data (February 2026): Spot price basis for melt value calculation.

Values represent typical dealer ask and market prices; individual results may vary by region, submission timing, and coin quality. This guide covers standard non-error varieties only. Market prices are subject to change as commodity prices and collector demand evolve.