1970-S Small Date Lincoln Penny?

[blindbug]

I was rummaging through my change for Wheaties, like I always do... when I noticed that I had a San Fran mint coin. Like always, I pull them out, just for curiosity. It's a 1970-S and when looking into it at lincolncentresource.com, I see the small date variety is a somewhat rarer variety of lincolns (I know, I'm not telling you anything new). Anyway, I compare this one from my change to another 1970-S that I have in my collection, not expecting any differences, and notice that the 9 is significantly shorter than the one in my collection. So, I did a quick photoshop comparison of the coin I found vs. the known variety pictures over at lincoln cent resource and also included the other coin in my collection for comparison. So, I ask of you... is this a small date variety or not? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[drewbaccas]

I'm no expert but the nine doesn't look right. Guess we will wait for those with knowledge.

 

[blindbug]

I'm no expert but the nine doesn't look right. Guess we will wait for those with knowledge.

Ha, everything about this just confuses the hell out of me! The not-so-long tail on the 9, the pointy ends on the 9, the 'fattiness' of the S, that the other example from my 'collection' has such a long tail on the 9 (which neither of the known examples show). With my limited amount of luck, I just know what the answer is, not that I would sell it if it were small date anyway.

 

[TypeCoin971793]

In my opinion, I think it is a large date. Sorry for this news, but your examples show that it more closely approximates the large date.

 

[huntsman53]

Strong letters on "LIBERTY" and the tail of the inner curl of "9" pointing to the top right of the "S" Mintmark equals Large Date! If you find a 1970-S Cent with weakness on "LIBERTY" and the tail of the inner curl of the "9" points to the "7" in the Date, then you have a winner. These are the easiest diagnostics to remember.

1970-S 1c Large & Small Date Comparisons


Frank

 

[blindbug]

Strong letters on "LIBERTY" and the tail of the inner curl of "9" pointing to the top right of the "S" Mintmark equals Large Date! If you find a 1970-S Cent with weakness on "LIBERTY" and the tail of the inner curl of the "9" points to the "7" in the Date, then you have a winner. These are the easiest diagnostics to remember.

1970-S 1c Large & Small Date Comparisons

Frank

Thanks, Frank! I was leaning towards a Large Date, but I figured I better check with the resident experts here, since I am by no means well versed on the subject. Oh well, we can't win em all!