Anyone Ever Find A 1970-S Small Date Lincoln?

A few months ago I searched through about 650 1970-S cents. My grandmother always saved any 70-S cent she got in change because she knew there was a small date and a large date, but couldn't tell the difference so she just threw them in a separate container. I searched that entire container for her and didn't find a single one. I wouldn't call it impossible, but they really are rather elusive as far as finding one out of circulation.

If it were me, I'd just save up my money and buy one from a reputable dealer that matches the rest of your Memorial set. If your Memorial set is all MS red, a brown XF 70-S S.D. amongst all those other of red cents will look out of place. Just my opinion of course...

You are right about ebay. I see a lot of "small dates" that are actually large dates.

They are out there. I have at least 3,but I've been looking for about 40 years now.Biggest problem with a couple of mine is that they look BU, but have a partial fingerprint on the backs of two.Guess that's the price we pay for roll searching.

I've found one in circulation, and one was given to me in a bag of pennies that had been ruined in Hurricane Katrina. The pennies were in the bag when it happened (a freezer bag) and they are covered in all kinds of junk.

I've been through close to 1.5 million Lincoln cents since I started back in 1980. Granted, I couldn't really tell the difference to be sure until around 1990, but I have found one - yup, just one - 1970S small date cent in the 30 years I've been searching cents. That was about three years ago.

Believe me, if you are an average generalist collector with other things to do with your life (unlike me) then your best bet would be to just buy one. You can get a circ example for under $25. Your chances of finding one in change are exceedingly low.

I have found just one and that was in roll searching two rolls of 1970 s from my dad who only collects by the roll. He has hundreds of rolls, been saving since 40s. By the way they are all unsearched as far as any varieties. Next trip home will be fun.

When I lived near SF, I looked for ~15 years without any luck. I've found mine in dealer's bargain bins of singles cut from mint sets.

For as difficult as they are to find, they really aren't that expensive, which is surprising. Mine is raw and was purchased from a dealer about 3 or 4 years ago for $65 if I remember right. It's full red and probably grades MS62/63. It fits right in with the rest of my Memorials.

in general all the 60's and 70's S marks dont appear much in circulation

been searching for 6 months ( reg change I get from my icecream truck ) about 100-200 pennies a week

so far 68,69,71,73,74 all s marks in heavy circulated condition
the 74 is the regular style "s" mark not the transitional one.


those early s marks just dont show up much in pocket change