1970 S small date ? Second try.

[joel]

I found 2 more 1970 S Lincolns today and I think and hope that this time I have a small date. I'm going for the one on the right. Your input is once again sincerely appreciated. Thanks, Joel

[Maineman750]

Both large dates Joel. Just keep in mind it would be very rare to find one in circulation.

[jcuve]

For reference:

[joel]

Thanks Maineman, I thought the one on the right's 9 seemed to point more upward. In the past week I have found 5 1970 S Lincolns and I'm hoping that keeps up so I will finally find one. Thanks, Joel

[joel]

Thanks again Jcuve for your response and pictures. My desire is getting in the way of my objectivity. Thanks, Joel

[enamel7]

Joel, let me put it this way. I have been searching regular for 15 years and have found rolls of the large date. I have yet to find even one small date.
HH
enamel7

[joel]

Wow! Thanks Emamel7, I guess the odds are really steep. If they are that hard to find why is my 2013 red book list their value at only $55 at MS65? Thanks, Joel

[Maineman750]

They are easy enough to buy as many were saved when they first came out. Lots of them were found in mint and proof sets.

[coppercoins]

I can put this into better perspective.

I have been searching through change and BU rolls of Lincoln cents for better than 35 years. I have been through well over a million coins. I have found a GRAND TOTAL of two - (2) - 1970S small date cents in that search. One BU in a BU roll of 1970S cents, and one in change.

Going through old collections and dealer stock - I have found a couple dozen of them. This is primarily because a lot of them were saved by collectors back in the 1970s and they are surfacing in old boxes of coins, dealers are mostly clueless, so they end up in books and boxes at coin shows.

Searching through change in hopes of finding a 1970S small date cent...I'm not going to say the prospect is completely hopeless - but it's just about as hopeless as expecting a white, snowy Christmas in Tampa. It might be possible, but it hasn't happened in recorded time.

[GrumpyEd]

Many of the small dates came in mint sets, the odds of finding a circ is pretty small. I've searched many OBW 70-S rolls and never found any and never found a circ. I'd even think that some of the circs people find are escapees from mint sets.
Your best chance is look at mint sets or look at dealers stock in flips because they break of a lot of mint sets for the 70-D halves and they flip the rest of the coins for their stock of singles. You're probably more likely to find one that way or buy one if you don't find one but be sure what you buy is truly a small date.

While searching mint sets you might also find the big 70-S RPM because it's also found in mint sets.

[joel]

Thanks Coppercoins, That puts a whole new perspective on the value and uniqueness of finding one from searching from bank rolls. Thanks, Joel

[joel]

Thanks GrumpyEd, I'll have to check the mint sets my uncle left me. Thanks, Joel

[coppercoins]

If looking through 'unsearched' 1970 proof and mint sets, your chances are actually quite good at finding small dates. In those cases look carefully at the inside curl of the 9. If it's squared off and pointing down - large date. If it is pointed and aiming straight across to the 7 - small date. Additionally the shape of the 7 and 0 are different between them.

The 7 digit of the large date has a crease running across the point where the two parts of the digit intersect. The small date does not have this crease.

The 0 on the large date has a hump on its top. The small date is closer to perfectly round.

The two are actually quite easy to tell apart once you know what you are looking for. If this is an obsession to you, I would suggest buying a small date so you will have one in hand to study. Once you have seen the real thing in hand, there will never be a question as to which is which.

Additionally, remember this: The ratio of large to small date is exceptionally large. If you find 10 coins from 1970S, chances are they will be the same, and chances are they will be large date.

[joel]

Thanks Coppercoins, I appreciate your thorough and detailed descriptions to educate me. Thanks, Joel