A 1992-D obverse was accidentally mated with the Close AM reverse intended for 1993 — making the Denver version of one of the great modern rarities, with only about a dozen to fifteen known.
What it is
The 1992-D Close AM is a transitional die-pairing variety of the 1992-D Lincoln cent, listed in the Cherrypickers’ Guide as FS-901 (RDV-007). A 1992-D obverse was mated with the “1993-style” Close AM reverse: the A and M of AMERICA nearly touch at their bases, and the FG initials sit farther from the Memorial steps (GreatCollections). It is the Denver counterpart to the famous 1992-P Close AM — of the two, the Denver version is the one that turns up slightly more often, but both are major rarities (PCGS).
All circulation and proof Lincoln Memorial cents dated before 1993 (save a few 1992 test pieces) carry the Wide AM reverse style; 1993 was the only year the Close AM style was intended for both circulation and proof cents, so a Close AM reverse on a 1992-dated cent is a wrong-die mule-style pairing (Numismatic News).
How it happens at the Mint
The variety was first identified in 2001 (Numismatic News). What happened is a die mix-up: a reverse die carrying the new-for-1993 Close AM design was inadvertently paired with a 1992-dated Denver obverse and used to strike circulation coins. For years only one die pair was known; in 2017 a Minnesota roll searcher found an example that John Wexler confirmed came from a second, previously undocumented working die pair (Numismatic News).
Diagnostics: how to identify it
The rare Close AM design is identified at the reverse legend and the designer’s initials (Numismatic News):
- On a standard 1992 Wide AM cent, the bottom right leg of the A is widely separated from the left leg of the M in AMERICA; on the Close AM, the A and M nearly touch at their bases (Numismatic News; PCGS).
- Frank Gasparro’s FG initials sit farther from the Memorial Building on the Close AM reverse than on the standard Wide AM design (Numismatic News).
- Confirm the mintmark: this entry covers only the Denver (D) version. The Philadelphia 1992 Close AM is a separate, rarer variety with only about 5 known (PCGS).
Real error vs. post-mint damage
This is a die variety — the Close AM reverse was in the die itself, so all coins struck from the two known die pairs show it. It should not be confused with counting-machine or roll damage, which can chew up the reverse lettering. Numismatic News notes that one PCGS-certified example was actually labeled “UNC Details” for counting-machine damage and still sold for $552 — but it is the variety, not the damage, that carried the price (Numismatic News). Wear or flattening of a normal Wide AM reverse cannot bring the A and M closer together.
Notable examples
PCGS reported only about 15 known 1992-D Close AM cents after two decades in circulation, while Greysheet lists the variety’s mintage as “Approx. 15 known” and GreatCollections describes it as “roughly a dozen or fewer known” (PCGS; Greysheet; GreatCollections). Auction highlights include a PCGS MS64 Red Brown example that sold for $20,700 at Heritage (PCGS), a PCGS MS-65 Red at $8,225 (Heritage, January 2017), and an NGC AU-55 Brown at $990 (Numismatic News).
Value drivers
Denver struck 4,448,673,300 cents in 1992, so the variety’s value comes entirely from its rarity of roughly a dozen to fifteen known pieces (GreatCollections). Per Numismatic News, the coin normally fetches four-figure prices, with MS-65 RD examples bringing top money (Numismatic News). Certification by PCGS, NGC, or ANACS with the FS-901 attribution is effectively required for market acceptance. For reference, its Philadelphia sibling — the 1992-P Close AM, with about 5 known — sold for $24,056.63 on eBay as a PCGS MS67 Red (PCGS).
Market check
Compare live listings for this coin on eBay:
Search eBay for 1992-D Close AM Lincoln Cent
As an eBay Partner, The Coin Wiki may earn from qualifying purchases.
Specifications and sources
- Denomination: 1 cent — Lincoln Memorial reverse (Frank Gasparro), obverse by Victor D. Brenner (GreatCollections)
- Composition: copper-plated zinc; weight 2.5 g; diameter 19 mm (GreatCollections)
- 1992-D mintage: 4,448,673,300 (variety: roughly 12–15 known) (GreatCollections; Greysheet)
- Listings: Cherrypickers’ FS-901 (RDV-007); PCGS Coin No. 391427 (GreatCollections; Greysheet)
- Sources: PCGS news (“1992-P Close AM Lincoln Cent Sells for $24,056”); Numismatic News (“Second ’92-D Close AM die pair found,” “Rare 1992-D Error Cent Found in Tray,” “Close AM cent found by reader”); GreatCollections auction lot description; Greysheet variety page.
