Many social media sites—especially TikTok and YouTube—give the impression that it is relatively easy to discover the two major nearly impossible to find 1992/1992-D Close AM varieties.
To give you the odds of your finding one, the 1992 Cent has a mintage of 4,648,905,000. But since 2009, only three Close AM coins have been authenticated. The 1992-D Cent has a mintage of 4,448,673,300. But since 1993, but only 15 Close AM coins have been found.
These are Power Ball lottery odds of your finding something. But the difference is time. You buy a lottery ticket and check the winning numbers once. Searching for a 1992/1992-D Close AM Coin wastes valuable hobby time with chances close to zero that you will ever hit the numismatic jackpot.
The label “Close AM” has sparked hundreds of click-bait posts on social media, promising riches if you only will subscribe to their site. What makes the hunt for the rare 1992/1992-D Close Am cents so confusing are billions of regular 1998, 1999 and 2000 cents, all with Close AM. The moderately valuable error in these years is the Wide AM.
Let that sink in. 1992/1992-D Close AM cents=riches; 1998-2000 Wide AM cents=lunch money, usually.
Now let’s use PCGS CoinFacts photos and values to help you identify the various types.
1992/1992-D Close AM
1992 Close AM (worth $2,600-$26,000 in mint state) and 1992-D Close AM (worth $2,100 to $12,250) in mint state).
Here’s how to tell:
Here are other diagnostics:
The “A” in the Wide AM is centered between the two “T”s. The “A” in the desired Close AM leans toward the second “T.” Also see the difference in the designer initial fonts. The common Wide AM has a trace of a serif on the “G”; the rarity Close AM lacks that with slightly more spacing between the initials and device.
The above die markers are critical when evaluating whether or not you have the ultra rarity. China has flooded the market with replicas having the Close AM but forgetting those markers. They turn up on online auctions and land in the hands of hobbyists. Here’s an example:
New collectors beware: The hobby has no mercy. If you do not know what you are buying, trying to score a bargain, you’ll lose hundreds of dollars in a short time. In coin collecting, you get what you pay for.
That’s why articles like this are important.
1998, 1999, 2000 Wide AM
Because values for the Wide AM 1998-2000 are relatively low, you’ll find fewer fakes and replicas. But it still is important to know how to tell if you have one.
Let’s look at the regular issues of 1998, 1999, 2000 cents v. WIDE AM varieties (worth $15-700 based on mint state grades):
Another way to distinguish between the two concerns the placement of the initials. In the Wide AM, the “FG” is closer to the base of the Lincoln Memorial building.
Commit to memory:
1992/1992-D Regular/Wide Strikes are worth 1 cent to ?? depending on color, grade and condition.
1992/1992-D Close AM are worth thousands.
1998-2000 Regular/Close Strikes are worth 1 cent to ?? depending on color, grade and condition.
1998-2000 Cents Wide AM are worth $15-?? depending on color, grade and condition.
You can also consult this handy chart:
Finally, to complicate matters even further, two additional varieties exist in 1998 and 1999 Proof cents. All Proof Lincoln Cents from 1993 to 2009 should have Wide AMs. But fewer than 100 were struck with the reverse of the business strike, the 1998/99 Close AM. The proof errors here are typically worth hundreds.
If you’re going to spend hobby time looking for the 1998-2000 Wide AM cents, that’s justifiable. You’re training your eyes for grading. But if you’re bent on finding the rare 1992/1992-D Close AM cents, you’re wasting your time … and a good part of your life.
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