1980-D Lincoln Cent
Struck on 90% Silver Dime Planchet 2.5g
Silver Cent
Extremely Rare Transitional Off-Metal
NGC MS 64
1 of Only 3 Known
$10,000

This 1980-D Lincoln Cent was struck on a U.S. 90% silver Dime planchet weighing 2.5 grams. 1964 dated Dimes were 90% silver, 1965 dated Dimes were clad.

A transitional error occurs when a coin is struck on a planchet from a year with different metal composition. The most famous transitional is a 1943 copper cent struck on a 1942 copper blank. 1943 cents were struck in steel because of the copper shortage during World War II.

In this case, this transitional off-metal was struck in 1980 at the Denver Mint, on a silver Dime planchet from 1965. It was likely an intentional mint error since it is extremely unlikely that a silver Dime planchet accidentally was struck 15 years later, when clad Dime planchets were in production.

Incredibly, there are 3 known 1980-D Dimes struck on 90% silver Dime planchets that weigh exactly 2.5 grams, which is the exact weight of the 1965 silver Dime planchet. A MS 65 example was placed with a collector and there are 2 MS 64 examples, one of which is the one offered here.

These transitional off-metal 1980-D Silver Cents are rarer than the 1965 Silver Cent transitional off-metals. Three 1965 Silver Cent transitional off-metals have sold in Heritage auctions for $9,200.00 (Jan 7, 2006, lot #6227), $9,987.50 (Jan 14, 2023, lot #5114), and $9,200 (Sep 26, 2010, lot #4936). This is a rare opportunity to acquire a U.S. Silver Cent struck 15 years after the coinage transitioned to clad.

Transitionals are featured in my NLG Award winning book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors.