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1970 Lincoln Cent Guide: Hunting for Big Money in Your Change
If you have a jar of old pennies, you might be holding onto a rare piece of American history. While most 1970 pennies are worth exactly one cent, specific errors and varieties from this year have sold for thousands of dollars at auction. To find the “big money” coins, you need to know exactly what to look for on both the front and back of the penny.
1. The Holy Grail: The 1970-S Small Date
The most famous variety of this year is the 1970-S Small Date. Minted in San Francisco, these are significantly rarer than the “Large Date” versions produced that same year.
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How to Identify it: Look at the number “7” in 1970. On a Small Date, the top of the “7” is perfectly level with the “1” and “9”. On the common Large Date, the “7” is set noticeably lower.
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The “9” Tell: On the rare Small Date, the tail of the “9” points directly toward the middle of the “7”.
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The Value: While a common 1970 penny is worth face value, a 1970-S Small Date in high-grade “Proof” condition can be worth anywhere from $300 to over $20,000.
2. The Major Error: 1970-S Doubled Die Obverse (FS-101)
Even more valuable than the Small Date is the Doubled Die Obverse error. This occurs when the coin die itself has a doubled image, which is then stamped onto the penny.
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What to Look For: Use a magnifying glass to inspect the words “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST”. If you see clear, distinct doubling (like a shadow or secondary set of letters), you may have found a winner.
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The Value: This is one of the scarcest major doubled dies in the entire Lincoln series. A high-quality specimen (graded MS66) has reached a record sale of $24,150.
3. Other Rare Errors to Watch For
Not every valuable penny is about the date. Sometimes the mistake happens during the strike itself:
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Floating Roof Error: On some 1970-D (Denver) pennies, a polishing error caused the roof of the Lincoln Memorial on the reverse to appear “detached” or floating. These can fetch a premium from specialty collectors.
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Off-Center Strikes: If the penny was not centered when it was stamped, part of the design will be missing. The more off-center the coin is (while still showing the date), the more it is worth.
Comparison Table: 1970 Penny Values
| Variety | Mint Mark | Key Feature | Approximate Value |
| Common Large Date | None / D / S | “7” is lower than other digits | $0.01 – $0.05 |
| Rare Small Date | S (San Francisco) | “7” is level with “1” and “9” | $20 – $18,000+ |
| Doubled Die Obverse | S (San Francisco) | Doubling on “LIBERTY” | $2,000 – $24,150 |
| Floating Roof | D (Denver) | Gap in the Memorial roof | $5 – $50+ |
How to Protect Your Finds
If you find a penny that looks like one of these rare varieties, do not clean it. Cleaning a coin with chemicals or even a cloth can destroy its “mint luster” and reduce its collector value by 90%. Instead, place it in a soft plastic coin flip and consider having it professionally graded by a service like PCGS or NGC to lock in its value.
Would you like me to create a step-by-step checklist on how to use a magnifying glass to spot these specific doubling errors?
