Are any of these 1970-S pennies small dates?

[bugo]

A good chance to cherry one is looking at every 70-S mint set that you come across in shops or auctions.
The mint sets aren't cheap because the 70-D halves are valuable.

I have a BU '70-D half. Gave ten bucks for it. I don't know if that was a good deal or not, but I wanted it and was willing to pay that price for it.

[bugo]

Let me help you out....nothing wrong with getting "another opinion"...but announcing it is like saying "Thanks for your help, but I'll ask somebody else because I don't trust yours" It's just something better left unsaid...especially when half of our guys know more about varieties than 99% of the coin dealers out there.

That's not what I intended at all. When I first made the post, I hadn't planned to stop by the coin shop. I decided to get 50 wheats so I stopped by and I figured while I was there I'd ask him for his opinion. No disrespect was intended.

[grizz]

I apologize for asking the same question over and over, but I still haven't gotten the hang of the difference between the 1970-S small date and the large date.

...no need to apologize. the best way to get the hang of knowing the difference is study every bit of info that you can on identifying between the two. compare all the info to make your determination.

[Arjohn]

Dont feel bad about asking over and over -- I have problems with that as well, and have learned a lot just by reading -- So you are helping others too - just by asking -- And a huge thanks to the guys responding -- it is LD/SD University

[Maineman750]

Why don't you tell us what it is you are having trouble understanding. That would probably be much more productive than a simple "Is this it? "

[Arjohn]

Why don't you tell us what it is you are having trouble understanding. That would probably be much more productive than a simple "Is this it? "

Excellent point... For me -- I see the marker of the 9 -- but for me (this is the guy who can't see a DD on a certified example) the pictures I see and the coins are just too different.... In hand, under Loupe it just appears so different than the great photos. I am hoping (when I get to them) I can go through my cache and look at them through my new scope, that may help more

[Maineman750]

One thing you can focus on is the weak LIBERTY, it is one diagnostic that has to be there for it to be a small date :http://www.lincolncentresource.com/s...smalldate.html

[GrumpyEd]

Excellent point... For me -- I see the marker of the 9 -- but for me (this is the guy who can't see a DD on a certified example) the pictures I see and the coins are just too different.... In hand, under Loupe it just appears so different than the great photos. I am hoping (when I get to them) I can go through my cache and look at them through my new scope, that may help more

Very true. I remember looking for certain DDOs like the 54-S die-1 and 55-D die-1. The pics of examples online and in books were so good, perfect lighting and angles and the doubling showed so well that I thought I won't miss it when I look through coins. In both cases I couldn't find one so I bought examples. When looking at the examples I had to turn the coin just right and have the right lighting angle to see it and then I found that I already had examples of both of them that I had missed because I thought it was much easier to see than it was. It made me learn to look closer and think more about lighting and angles and made me have great appreciation for skill the experts have at taking great pics of varieties.

[eaxtellcoin]

We always find them in bags of BU memorials that the local coin shops put together to sell off. These are the coins from the books that they disassemble.

After reading all this I was glad maineman brought up the weak Liberty. It is by FAR the easiest marker for most folks to follow.

[Arjohn]

The Weak liberty --- Thank you - I will try to keep that in mind

[grizz]

...the weak liberty is a good marker but why not be sure and check each and every one? it only takes a minute to be sure...

[Maineman750]

...the weak liberty is a good marker but why not be sure and check each and every one? it only takes a minute to be sure...

The weak LIBERTY was suggested as a starting point because the guys are having difficulty with the others.....it must be there before the other markers come into play.

[grizz]

...starting point yes. I guess I'm weird but my way is a habit..