Lincoln error experts - 1970S Small Date????

bizzarri

OK, armed with my cherrypicker's guide, I'm going through some mint sets I bought on the bay of e. They were all opened, so I didn't expect much. So far, I found this puppy:


It seems to meet the two Cherrypicker's diagnostics: weak Liberty (very!) and level 7 and 0.

But, I'm no expert, to say the least. Any thoughts on this? Any better pictures of a real small date 1970S?

wayneherndon

Try this.

WH

wayneherndon

PS: The picture is not that close up but it looks like a small date to me.

bizzarri

Thanks for the reminder about your site... I should check it more often. Very informative.. it's nice of you to provide such a service.

I try to buy from you whenever I can, btw, just because I like your newsletter and your site..

I think it's worth sending in, if only for the educational value. I'll get a better close up.

Shamika

Technically, I don't think the 1970-S Small Date is an error.

I believe it is a variety.

bizzarri

You are right.. I should at least get the nomenclature right.

OK, here's some close ups.

Rampage

Looks like a SD to me, too.

Rampage.

NJCollector

Isn't the key to determining the small vs large 1970-S to look at the bottom of the & and see how far down it extends?

bizzarri

Cherrypicker's guide says the top of the 7 and 0 should be level, and LIBERTY should be faded.
That's as much as I know... I'm still very much a novice w.r.t varieties

cladking

The RTY of LIBERTY is usually weakly struck. There are a few exceptions to this
and of course many of the large dates will be weakly struck. Placement of the
"7" and "0" is a diagnostic, but for most people it's easier to spot the sm dt by
the lower loop of the "9". It points toward the mint mark on the large date and
curls up to point at the "7" on the small date. With the proofs some will find the
height of the "7" and "0" is the easiest way to tell them apart.

A little more than one original '70 mint set in ten will have the small date. Gems
of these are deceptively difficult to find. "Deceptively" because there are a lot of
the near misses.

In recent years this is another coin which shows up much more frequently with
tarnish and spotting when seen in mint packaging.