1970-S Small Date Penny
A Modern Key Date Hiding in Plain Sight
Overview — A Modern Cent Worth Checking Your Change For
The 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Memorial cent is one of the most rewarding "check your pocket change" coins in modern American numismatics — a genuinely scarcer variety hiding within an otherwise unremarkable, mass-produced date, still occasionally found by attentive collectors sorting through rolls or inherited coin jars decades after its production. Unlike the ancient rarities and 19th-century key dates that dominate much of serious numismatics, the 1970-S Small Date represents an accessible, modern entry point into variety collecting — proof that genuinely valuable coins can still turn up in circulation-adjacent sources even from relatively recent decades.
The San Francisco Mint struck 1970-dated cents in two distinct date styles that year, a mid-year die change similar in spirit to other famous American date-size varieties. The Large Date version is common and worth essentially face value in circulated condition, while the Small Date version — struck in comparatively smaller quantities before the Mint's die adjustment — commands a genuine and well-established premium that makes learning to distinguish the two varieties a worthwhile skill for any modern cent collector or casual pocket-change checker.
How to Identify the Small Date Variety
Distinguishing the Small Date from the Large Date requires close examination of the date numerals, particularly the "70" portion of "1970." On the Small Date variety, the numerals are noticeably smaller and appear to sit lower, closer to Lincoln's bust, with the "0" in "1970" positioned distinctly lower than the "9" that precedes it — creating a visibly uneven, sloped appearance across the date's baseline. On the more common Large Date variety, all four numerals are larger, bolder, and sit level with each other along a consistent baseline.
The most reliable comparison point specialists recommend is examining the relationship between the "7" and "0" — on the Small Date, these two digits appear noticeably closer together and slightly offset vertically compared to the more evenly spaced, level digits of the Large Date. A side-by-side reference image or a magnifying glass makes this distinction considerably easier for collectors new to variety identification; once you've compared a confirmed example of each type, the difference becomes much easier to spot with the naked eye on subsequent coins.
Compare the "70"
Small Date numerals sit lower and closer together than the bold, level Large Date digits.
Check the Baseline
Small Date shows an uneven, sloped baseline; Large Date numerals sit level with each other.
S Mint Mark Only
This variety exists only among San Francisco-minted 1970 cents — no P or D examples apply.
Genuine Premium
Small Date examples command real, well-established value above common Large Date coins.
Still Found in Circulation
Occasionally turns up in old rolls, jars, and inherited coin collections even today.
Certification Recommended
PCGS and NGC both attribute this variety, adding confidence for higher-grade examples.
Why the Small Date Variety Is Valuable
The 1970-S Small Date's value comes down to simple relative scarcity: the Small Date dies were used for a comparatively shorter period before the Mint's die adjustment produced the Large Date style that dominates the remainder of that year's San Francisco production. While exact production split figures between the two varieties aren't precisely documented (a common situation for mid-year date-punch variations across U.S. Mint history), the Small Date is consistently and significantly scarcer in the marketplace, a scarcity reflected clearly in decades of established collector demand and consistent price premiums.
This scarcity-driven premium exists despite the coin's very recent, high-volume overall mintage — a genuinely interesting numismatic lesson that even "modern, common" coin dates can harbor meaningful variety-driven rarity for attentive collectors. The 1970-S Small Date has become something of a gateway coin for newer collectors interested in variety attribution, since it demonstrates that real, well-documented value differences can exist within dates that most casual observers would otherwise dismiss as unremarkable modern pocket change.
Value Guide
Values shown are approximate market ranges for authentic, correctly attributed examples. Certification is particularly valuable for this variety given how easily it can be confused with the common Large Date type.
| Variety | Circulated (VF-XF) | Uncirculated (MS-63) | Gem (MS-65+) | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-S Large Date (common) | Face value | $1–$3 | $5–$15+ | eBay → |
| 1970-S Small Date KEY | $15–$40 | $50–$150 | $200–$1,500+ | eBay → |
| 1970-S Small Date, Proof | N/A | $100–$300 | $500–$2,000+ | eBay → |
Where to Buy 1970-S Small Date Pennies
eBay — Certified Small Date
PCGS and NGC certified 1970-S Small Date examples with confirmed attribution — the safest way to ensure you're getting the genuine scarce variety.
Shop Certified Coins →eBay — Raw 1970-S Cents
Search uncertified 1970-S cent listings if you're comfortable attributing the Small Date variety yourself using date-comparison references.
Shop Raw Cents →FRC Coin Price Guide
Research certified values for this variety and other modern U.S. cent rarities before you buy or sell.
View Price Guide →Related Coin Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a 1970-S penny valuable?
Most 1970-S pennies are the common Large Date variety, worth essentially face value in circulated condition. The scarcer Small Date variety — distinguished by smaller, lower, uneven date numerals — commands a genuine premium starting around $15–$40 even in circulated grades, and considerably more in higher mint state condition, thanks to its established relative scarcity compared to the Large Date type struck for the remainder of that year's San Francisco production.
How do I tell a Small Date from a Large Date 1970-S penny?
Examine the "70" in the date closely. On the Small Date, the numerals are noticeably smaller and sit at an uneven, sloped baseline, with the "0" positioned distinctly lower than the "9" before it. On the Large Date, all four date digits are bolder, larger, and sit level with each other. Comparing your coin side-by-side against confirmed reference images of both types — widely available in numismatic guides and online — is the most reliable way to learn this distinction.
Can I still find a 1970-S Small Date penny in circulation?
While genuinely rare at this point given the coin is now over five decades old, 1970-S Small Date pennies do still occasionally turn up — most commonly in old, unsearched coin rolls, inherited coin jars or collections, and similar long-undisturbed sources rather than typical day-to-day pocket change. Serious searchers specifically pursuing this variety often focus on acquiring and searching older bank-wrapped rolls rather than relying on chance encounters in everyday transactions.
Should I get my 1970-S Small Date penny certified?
Certification through PCGS or NGC is genuinely valuable for this variety, both because it provides definitive, expert attribution confirming you actually have the scarcer Small Date type (rather than a Large Date that's been mistaken for one), and because it protects the coin's value and provides buyer confidence if you ever decide to sell. Given how easily the two varieties can be confused by inexperienced collectors, certification is considered good practice for any 1970-S cent believed to be the Small Date variety, particularly for higher-grade examples where the value difference is most significant.
Is the 1970-S Small Date the only valuable modern penny variety?
No — modern American cents contain several other well-known and actively collected varieties, most notably the 1972 Doubled Die Obverse (where the date and lettering show dramatic, visible doubling) and various other doubled dies and mint errors across the Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln Shield cent series. These varieties collectively demonstrate that even recent, high-mintage coin dates can harbor genuine numismatic value for attentive collectors willing to learn proper attribution techniques.
What is a good starting point for learning to identify coin varieties like this one?
Starting with a confirmed, certified example of both the common and scarce varieties side-by-side is the most effective learning method, since direct visual comparison builds pattern recognition far more effectively than descriptions alone. Numismatic reference guides with detailed comparison photos, along with online resources from major grading services, provide additional reference material. Once you've trained your eye on one well-documented variety pair like the 1970-S Small/Large Date, the same careful observation skills transfer readily to identifying other date and mint mark varieties across U.S. coinage.
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