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Why aren't 1970-S Small Date Lincoln cents more popular?
abcde12345
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Rarely if ever are they discussed here yet I think they're an attractive and somewhat scarce coin to finish a modern set of cents with. Why is there a lack of love for this variety yet the Lincoln cent as a whole is popular?
Edited to add this photo:
I spot the difference not so much in looking at the 7, although that works, yet rather checking out the curve of the 9. The small date curve of the 9 is almost straight and the large date is angled down. The weak LIBERTY is also a decent indication.
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Probably, unlike the 1960 Large/Small dates, it had competition in the media at the time. The 1970-D Kennedy Half was the thing to buy, since it could only be had from a mint set, and it was the last silver coin issued by the U.S. at the time. They are also tougher to tell apart than the '60s. Just guesses, but...
Curious as to what you mean by this as the s mint Ikes were silver for the next two years, and then both silver and clad for two more and again in 1976.
Not enough difference.
This is one I made earlier this year....PR66RD, picked from a set (cherried myself).
bob
Just now realized it is a Coin Facts plate coin!!
I agree.
This. Had the 1960 Small and Large Date cents not existed, with the 1960-P SD making certain people lots of money, nobody would have given the 1970 varieties a rat’s patoot.
I think proof 70-S small date cents seem like a good deal at current prices. Circ strikes in MS66RD/better are also solid values.
Maybe the small date 1970-S would be more popular if there was agreement on the diagnostics:
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1970-s-small-date-penny-incorrect-listing-at-heritage.326871/
http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/1970S1cSmAndLgDtCompare.htm
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There IS agreement on the diagnostics. I've cherried plenty over the years and sold each and every one-they have no appeal whatsoever for me. The proof small over large date is kinda neat, tho.
Another project for a snow day....
Look through my jars of cents....I have been compiling a list of dates to look for ... will add this one. Cheers, RickO
The slant 7 is a bit pricey for a modern coin. The slant 7 proof is about $90. Mine is on the way in a few days
For me, they're boring. Hard to see a real difference.
At least with the '55 DDO and '72 DDO, you have something you can really see is different and "shouldn't be".
Small dates/large dates....they're for those that want complete completeness, imho. Not for many of us that want completeness (such as every date/MM) without feeling a need to reach for other things.
It's part of the reason why, even though I like bust halves, I won't do them. Too many varieties that people fixate on. Bumps up the prices and makes it harder, at times, to get certain samples one may want.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Here is a picture of the difference close up and my example I got on Ebay for a little under $200
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They are an obscure variety that was promoted heavily shortly after it was issued. Once the promotion ended and the promoter had made his money they began their trip into the world of minor varieties and "cherry-pickers".
Just one of many minute variations that have little (or no) visual interest.
As I recall Q. David Bowers was one of the people that promoted it, and he may have been responsible for getting it in the Redbook. Once it was in there it was immortalized.
As I said above this would have been a nothing variety were it not for the 1960-P&D Small and Large Date cents. Those would not have been such a big deal had both mints struck both varieties in quantity. However, the Philadelphia Mint struck a small quantity of the Small Date cents right after the first of the year, and then began production of a number of orders for foreign coins. By the time they resumed striking Lincoln cents the date style had already been changed.
This coin is number 97 in the Top 100 greatest Modern coins.
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Had to really stretch for that one, didn't they?
I am unsure why it is a part of the list. The stories in the book about the "whys" each coin is included are compelling. the story for this coin leaves me wanting.
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Maybe they had to fill out the printer's signature....?
They sure did!
What are coins 98; 99, and 100?
1981-S SBA
2010-D Zachary Taylor Dollar - Misdated
1987 P/D Kennedy Half Dollar
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It shouldn't be in the top 1000 IMO.
Agree with koynekwest. Maybe in the top 10,000!
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Here are photos of the 1974 small and large date Lincoln cents.
This is from the Lincoln cent resource website. Bet most Lincoln cent collectors do not even know about this one.
This variety exists for all three mints, business strikes.. Not sure about the proofs.
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
Got this one in change today , also a 2005 end roll looking lincoln
Lasered!!
I think it's an interesting variety and actually relatively scarce.
The differences to me are obvious and I can spot them easily without a glass.
Can't be to many of these around
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The answer for me is simple. Those coins are boring, at least for me.
Here’s the question to ask yourself for a reality check before buying a coin:
“If this coin wasn’t in the catalogs, albums, registry sets and price guides, would it be worth owning at this price?”
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
On the 1974 small date, the top of the 7 is “slopped” and tips to the right.
The “4” in the large date is a bit “puffed” and noiticebly bigger than the small date 4
On the large date, the top of the 7 is level
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"
This coin is far less common than people think. Almost all examples come from mint sets and coins still in mint set packaging are mostly ruined now.
People should ask themselves if the coins were in catalogs and the catalogs reflected real prioces what would they be willing to pay. Modern coins are held back by artificially low prices in catalogs that reflect neither supply nor demand. This applies much less to the '70-S sm dt because it's one of the few desirable moderns that are in the catalogs and where price is determined by a fixed demand and a more fluid supply. By this I mean trhere is a steadily increasing number of collectors who "need" this coin for their sets and a supply that is based principally on the rate of destruction of sets and new coins coming on market. The price has been climbing for years and I sense the coins coming to market must dry uo before too long and leave only the tarnished coins in mint sets.
Something I’ve wondered about - why were the 1970 small date only struck at San Francisco? Did the Mint not want a repeat of 1960? Why was the change made? Was it because of the weak “LIBERTY”?
witty quote goes here
Excellent question.
A speculation: They made a master die that was dated with the small date and a master hub from that which was intended to use for the Proof sets. It did not copy well, resulting in the weak LIBERTY, but they hubbed some dies anyways and punched S mint marks into them. They were sent to San Francisco.
Some got "proofed" and used to strike Proofs. Somebody was unhappy with the results, possibly because of the weak LIBERTY, so they stopped making Proofs with them and used the remaining un-proofed dies to make business strikes. Later Proof and Business Strike dies were made from the "normal" master die and master hub that happened to have the Large Date.
As I say this is mere speculation. However, it explains how a certain date variation COULD have been used only in San Francisco.
TD
I've often wondered why a wheat cent from 1922 without a D mint mark could be valued so much higher than an '82 Roosevelt Dime without a mint mark.
Or better yet, why those modern proofs without mintmarks could be so expensive ?
In the world of coins.... I search, but I quit wondering.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I sure don't understand. The '70-S sm dt is a great coin but it is far more common than a really nicely made and pristine '70, '70-D, or '70-S.
Its because the Lincoln cent is probably the most collected U S coin series.
a.k.a "The BUFFINATOR"