1970-S Proof Nickel Mintmark Location

Hmmm...what is going on between the top and middle curve of the S in the first example? Or, is that just part of the punch?

Mintmarks were punched into the individual dies by hand until 1990. Any position inside the rim, behind the hair, and under the date was considered normal. Sort of like hand rubber stamping return addresses on envelopes. You're not going to get them all in the extact same position.

The stuff inside the mintmark is just a part of the punch. Very normal.

That's because they are attempting to list every die state and stage of every die...why, I can't say.

Any die can be identified by markers - die scratches, cracks, clashes, polishing, hub doubling, mintmark position, even date position on the older coins. Why anyone would want to list every single die of a series with so many dies used is beyond me.

Good luck trying to VAM up the Lincoln Cent series. You'd never find any takers. Just the true die varieties are a nightmare in themselves.