1970-S Small Date?

[Guest]

Opinions would be helpful. The washed out LIBERTY and the 9 have me thinking small date but not convinced based on the 7. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Historyhound]

Appears to be LD. The 7 is too low for starters. Very nice coin though.

[tmin]

As I suspected. I'll continue my picking. Thanks!

[Maineman750]

Definitely large date, here is one of coop's illustrations pointing out the differences...and they all have to match.

[tmin]

Great image. Very helpful. Thanks!

[Arjohn]

That makes life so much easier!

[tokameel]

Definitely large date, here is one of coop's illustrations pointing out the differences...and they all have to match.

Great info on the square or pointy "7"s

[thatzafactjack]

Hey! Greetings from Vancouver B.C.! This fascination we all share for the Lincoln Cent is truly bound up in a perceptual mystique like no other. Unique unto itself. For example: tmin's photos, -(those taken flat and square )- to my eye, offer a classic example of the distinctively chiseled upper end of the Small Date's 9. I was, and still am, stunned by the unanimous verdict to the contrary. As the dissenting vote I offer for your consideration a new, -( well, new to me,..)- observation I happened upon which pointed out that the S.D.'s 9 is actually larger, thicker, and heavier in scale and appearance to its own S.D. digit mates than the 9 which graces the L.D. variety is to its mates,....and is indeed noticeably larger and thicker than the 9 of the Large Date. So far as the contention that the bottom of the seven must be even with the bottom of the zero as being a valid diagnostic in the S.D. / L.D. determination, I refer one and all to the photos offered on this very site, as well as those offered at coppercoins.com representing the 1970 S 1c S.D. DDO #1. In both cases the seven pictured dips well below the lowest level of the bottom to the zero. However, it is very late. I would think the ideal man for this apparent dilemma of "perceptual" viewpoints would be Mr. Jcuve, whose shared obsession with this variety and its legendary accompanying issues, -(as well as his fantastic contributions in photographic excellence)- make him the obvious choice. -( My own issues with dyslexia are perceptual in nature, and often drive me to the verge of madness, so please forgive me should I have misunderstood the nature of tmin's post. I look forward to some feedback! I am grateful as always. Thanks so much.

[coppercoins]

Any misconception that the 9 is of the correct shape in these images for a small date can be attributed to the lighting. This is a large date.

There are many other characteristic differences to consider in the date, such as the shape of the zero - egg-shaped for the large date, and almost perfectly round for the small date. The shape and position of the seven - lower on large date coins, and the tail extends well below the bottom of the zero. On small date coins the top of the seven is equal to the top of the zero, and the bottom of the seven is nearly equal to that of the zero.

Small date coins almost always have a decided weakness in the center three letters of LIBERTY and on the large date they are usually always of equal strength.

Especially when considering photographs do not let one characteristic override all others for analysis sake. They are all present on all coins, so if one looks confusing the others can be counted upon.

[thatzafactjack]

Thanks so much! I truly love these forums. The new information as to determining the I.D. with regards to the shape of the zero alone is new, -( to me )- and I am grateful for the info!