What it is
San Francisco cents of 1970 come with a Large Date (low 7) and a scarcer Small Date (high 7). The Small Date is a key coin for collectors of Memorial cents.
How to identify it
- On the Small Date the top of the 7 is level with the top of the 0.
- On the Large Date the 7 sits lower than the other digits.
- LIBERTY on the Small Date is weaker and thinner.
A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.
What gets mistaken for it
Proof 1970-S cents also exist in both date sizes. Check whether your coin is a business strike or a proof before comparing.
The regular 1970-S coin
The variety appears on the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial Cent, which had a total mintage of 690,560,004. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
Two hubs in one year
San Francisco cents of 1970 were struck with two different obverse hubs. The Large Date, sometimes called the Low 7, has a 7 that drops below the other digits. The Small Date, or High 7, came from a hub whose digits are level and that hub also produced weaker lettering in LIBERTY. Far fewer coins were struck with it, so Small Date business strikes are much scarcer.
The two types are not a die error but genuine design varieties, so every coin from a Small Date die shows the same features. That makes them easier to attribute than doubled dies, once you know what to look for.
A step-by-step check
Use a 5x loupe and a lamp above the coin. First, look along the tops of the four digits. If the 7 lines up with the 9 and the 0, you may have a Small Date. Then check LIBERTY: on the Small Date the letters are thinner and less bold. Finally, compare the coin with a known Large Date 1970-S, the much more common type, holding both under the same light.
Look closely at the S mint mark too. It should be crisp and fully separate from the date. A damaged or filled S can make a coin hard to attribute and the grading services will not attribute a coin they cannot confirm as San Francisco.
Proof Small Dates
San Francisco also struck the 1970 proof cents in both date sizes and the Small Date proof is scarcer than the Large Date proof. Proofs have mirror fields and sharp devices and were sold in proof sets. Check whether a coin came from a set before comparing it with business strike images, since the two are listed separately.
The 1970-S Small Date doubled die
There is also a 1970-S Small Date doubled die obverse, with doubling in LIBERTY and the motto. It is far rarer than the ordinary Small Date and is attributed separately. Any 1970-S Small Date should be checked for doubling under a 10x loupe.
Mistakes to avoid
Damage on the date can make the digits look level when they are not, so check the top of the 7 for a clean edge. Some sellers also list proof Small Dates as business strikes or the other way around, so make sure the surface matches the description. A weak LIBERTY alone does not prove a Small Date, because worn Large Dates can have weak letters too.
Grades and colors
Small Date business strikes in Uncirculated condition with full red color are the coins collectors want most. Many circulated examples have dark or spotted surfaces from years in change. A coin with weak LIBERTY can still be a genuine Small Date, since weakness is part of the variety, but the date must be clear enough to judge.
Attribution
PCGS and NGC label the 1970-S Small Date and Large Date as separate types. Name the date size when you submit and check the label when the coin comes back.
Where to look for a 1970-S Small Date
Business strike Small Dates are rarely found in change, but they do turn up in older collections. Check Lincoln cent albums and folders filled in the 1970s, old rolls of 1970-S cents and Uncirculated Mint sets from 1970, which included San Francisco cents. Sort the coins by date first, then check only the 1970-S cents with a loupe. A small strip of paper laid along the tops of the digits makes it easy to see whether the 7 is level with the 9 and 0.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent?
On the Small Date the top of the 7 is level with the top of the 0. On the Large Date the 7 sits lower than the other digits. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent valuable?
Genuine examples sell for a premium over regular coins of the same date. The amount depends on how strong the variety is, the coin's condition and whether it is certified. Compare recent sold auction results for certified coins in the same grade.
What is a date size variety?
San Francisco cents of 1970 come with a Large Date (low 7) and a scarcer Small Date (high 7).
Is the 1970-S Small Date a proof or business strike?
Both exist. The business strike Small Date is the key coin for Memorial cent collectors, while proof Small Dates came in 1970 proof sets.
Do 1970 Philadelphia or Denver cents come in a small date?
The Small Date and Large Date varieties are collected on San Francisco cents. Philadelphia and Denver 1970 cents are not collected by date size.