Louisiana Searching for 1982 Penny Worth More Than $15,000

There's a 1982 penny floating around the U.S. right now that has everyone checking their piggy banks and couch cushions.

Why? Because if you have the right penny, it could be worth between $15,000 and $19,000.

Here are the four things you need to know to be able to correctly identify this highly valuable penny...

How To Identify Penny Worth $15,000

Coin collecting can be a really fun, but also a confusing hobby to anyone just getting into it.

Some people collect coins for their historical value—imagine holding a piece of history from ancient Rome or the early days of the United States.

Others enjoy the designs on coins, like animals, famous people, or landmarks.

Some folks are all about the hunt for rare coins or coins with minting errors, which can sometimes be worth a small fortune.

If you’re thinking about diving in, start small—maybe by checking the coins in your pocket for interesting designs or older dates.

You don’t need to spend a ton to get started! Over time, you might want to pick up some basic tools, like a magnifying glass, gloves (to keep coins clean), and a nice album to organize your collection.

READ MORE: Dad Dumps 80,000 Pennies in Street for Final Child Support Payment [Video]

Four Key Identifiers Of Valuable 1982 Small Date Penny

Currently, there is one particular penny that has collectors all lathered up to get into their collections.

If you have one of these, it could be worth a pretty penny, very literally.

Below are the 4 things to look for to see if you have the right 1982 penny worth thousands of dollars.

1. The Date It Was Produced - The most important thing to look for first is the date on the penny. This particular penny must have been produced in 1982, no exceptions.

If your penny has 1982 on it, the next thing to look for is the mint mark.
2. 1982 Penny Mint Mark - Right below the 1982 you want to see the letter "D".

This mint mark indicates that the penny was minted in Denver, Colorado.

Alright, you have the 1982 and the letter "D" below it? Let's look at the next indicator...

3. 1982 Penny Weight - This is a very important indicator. The penny must weigh about 3.1 grams. According to different sources, this penny can also weigh in at 3.08 grams, 3.10 grams, and even as low as 2.98 grams. You're looking for a weight in this ballpark.

This has to do with the material the penny is made of.

You'll want to weigh it on a scale that's really sensitive like a Jewler's Scale that can detect these very small weight differences.

OK, if you have the first three, here's the last thing to look for, and it's a tricky one...

4.1982 Small Date Penny - You're going to want to break out a magnifying glass or the camera on your phone for this one.

From the-sun.com -

"The fourth factor that the currency expert noted was the sizing of its alphanumeric characters.

He said the penny must be a 'small date' coin rather than a 'large date' coin.

The former refers to the noticeably smaller letters and numbers on this coin compared to a standard version.

 
Miller pointed out that the small date penny's date and the words 'Liberty' and 'In God We Trust' were noticeably thinner."

So, crack open the piggy banks, dig through your change drawer, check the couch and maybe you'll get lucky enough to find one!

If your penny hits all 4 marks, contact a local coin business and maybe they can help you positively identify it.

Good luck!

You can read more over the-sun.com.