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Have you found a 1970 penny in your pocket change?
You’re probably wondering about the value of these old pennies and if they’re worth keeping.
Maybe you’ve heard certain 1970-S pennies from the San Francisco Mint are worth more than others — something about the size of their date.
We’ve got the answers on what your 1970 pennies are worth, how to tell whether you’ve got the valuable 1970-S penny, and other cool facts about these old coins.
1970 Penny Facts
The 1970 penny was made during some very tense times for the United States.
The Vietnam War was in full tilt overseas. Back on the home front, protests had turned deadly — with events such as the Ohio National Guard shootings of Kent State University protestors redefining the peace movement.
Pennies in 1970 were made from a composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc.
1970 pennies were also struck at the Philadelphia, Denver (“D”), and San Francisco (“S”) Mints.
Many coin collectors are especially attuned to looking for the 1970-S Lincoln pennies because they come in 2 types of varieties. One of them is particularly valuable.
1970-S Small Date Penny vs. 1970-S Large Date Penny
The 1970-S Small Date penny is one of the scarcest, most sought-after of the regular-issue, business-strike Lincoln Memorial pennies — which were made from 1959 through 2008.
1970-S Small Date pennies aren’t rare coins, but they’re definitely much scarcer than the 1970-S Large Date Lincoln cents.
You have to be very careful when buying coins advertised as 1970-S Small Date pennies.
After spending some time searching for them on major auction websites, an experienced hobbyist is sure to spot at least a few 1970-S Large Date cents listed as 1970-S Small Date pennies. Whether this is intentional or an innocent oversight on the part of the seller is up for speculation, but there are some diagnostics for telling a 1970-S Small Date penny apart from a 1970-S Large Date Lincoln cent.
Here are some of the most important distinctions between 1970-S Small Date and 1970-S Large Date pennies:
- If the tail of the loop of the “9” in the date points directly to the “7,” then it’s a 1970-S Small Date penny. When the end of the loop of the “9” points to the top of the mintmark, then it is a 1970-S Large Date cent.
- On 1970-S Small Date Lincoln cents, the top of the “7” in the date will be level with the tops of the “1,” “9,” and “0” also in the date. On 1970-S Large Date pennies, the top of the “7” is sunken below the imaginary plane that aligns the tops of the other digits in the date.
- The bottom of the “7” in the date on 1970-S Small Date Lincoln cents is on the same plane as the “1” and “0” also in the date. On 1970-S Large Date Lincoln cents, the base of the “7” slips just below the imaginary line along the bottoms of the “1” and “0” of the date.
- On most 1970-S Small Date Lincoln pennies, the inscription LIBERTY is weakly struck, whereas LIBERTY is generally stronger on 1970-S Large Date cents. However, this diagnostic isn’t always foolproof, as LIBERTY is also weak on some 1970-S Large Date pennies. Therefore, this clue should be used in conjunction with the differences in the appearance of the date and not as a standalone diagnostic indicator.
Luckily for astute coin collectors, there are still some 1970-S Small Date pennies to be found in circulation. However, this is a challenge that will definitely require patience if you wish to find 1970-S Small Date pennies in pocket change or through searching bank rolls. “S”-mint Lincoln pennies are getting much harder to find in circulation these days, but they really are out there!
In addition to the business-strike 1970-S Small Date pennies, there are also 1970-S Small Date and 1970-S Large Date proof pennies. The most important way to tell these apart is to distinguish the date-related diagnostics — the same as with the circulation strikes.
By the way, there are no attributed 1970-D (Denver) or 1970 (Philadelphia) Large and Small dates. There is, however, a 1970 doubled die penny. It’s the 1970-S Large Date doubled die penny, and it’s the 3rd most scarce major doubled die penny. Only about 50 are known to exist. You can tell a 1970-S doubled die cent by looking at its obverse (heads side). You’ll see doubling in the inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The date is also doubled.
In addition to checking your spare change and bank rolls, you should also be looking for these 1970 pennies in uncirculated mint sets and proof sets. Mint sets and proof sets that contain the 1970-S Small Date penny are worth more than sets containing the 1970-S Large Date cent.
How Much Are 1970 Pennies Worth?
The 1970 penny is worth at least 2 cents, regardless of its condition. That’s thanks to the coin’s copper content — which is worth 2 cents. So save all of your 1970 pennies!
But what are those 1970-S Small Date pennies worth? How about the proof 1970 penny or the 1970-S Large Date doubled die penny? Here are the 1970 penny values:
- 1970 penny — 1,898,315,000 (1.898 billion) minted; 25 to 50+ cents
- 1970-D penny — 2,891,438,900 (2.891 billion) minted; 25 to 50+ cents
- 1970-S penny — 690,560,004 minted of all kinds; Large Date 25 to 50+ cents
- 1970-S Small Date penny — mintage included above; $40+
- 1970-S Large Date doubled die penny — About 50 known; $1,500+
- 1970-S proof penny — 2,632,810 minted of all kinds; Large Date $1+
- 1970-S Small Date proof penny — mintage include above; $30+
*All values are for 1970 pennies in uncirculated or proof condition.
What Else Happened When Your 1970 Penny Was Made?
1970 was a very busy year. Here’s a look at some of the major events and other highlights from 1970, the year your 1970 pennies were struck:
- The war in Vietnam expanded as United States troops invaded neighboring Cambodia, prompting the protests at Kent State University that ended in fatal gunfire.
- The African nation of Rhodesia declared itself a republic.
- A massive earthquake in Peru killed 50,000.
- Top movies in 1970 included Patton, M*A*S*H, Love Story, and The Aristocats.
- Popular TV shows in 1970 were The Brady Bunch, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Partridge Family, and Gunsmoke.
- On the radio, chart-toppers included “Your Song” by Elton John, “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5, “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison, “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, and “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago.
More About The 1970 Penny Value
In addition to the links I’ve included above, here are some other resources to help you determine the current value of your 1970 pennies:
- A Brief History Of The Penny
- Which Old Pennies Are The Most Valuable?
- Old Copper Pennies: Which Ones To Save & What They’re Worth
- 5 Rare Coins You’ll Find In The Lincoln Memorial Cent Series
- A List Of 43 U.S. Pennies Worth Holding On To
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
Can you tell me if mine is a small date or large date? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a9f5e781c0cc17c5b2abc432a66c4eb21ea00985c12b223101563dabb462edd3.jpg
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get on da floor underdog
Huh?
Hi, Joshua —
Based on what I see in the photos, it appears the tops of the “7” in the date of both coins is sunken below the imaginary line along the tops of the dates; that would make both of the coins large dates.
The approximate value for the coin on the left is about 2 cents and around 15 cents for the one on the right.
Thank you for your question and photo,
Josh
Also I have a dime that looks like a mint error. Could you tell me if it is worth anything? Although it looks like it’s damage. I believe was struck thru the minting machine. I can’t think of anything that would cause this unusual look. Date looks like 1974 D.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/704f5be1a6f70f746a7223ff7e45306a56ab4db072865fdd5c8ca188327805eb.jpg
Hi, Joshua —
This appears to be what coin collectors call a “dryer coin.” It’s a coin that would have been trapped in a clothes dryer or another cylindrical device and spun at a very high rate of speed. The centrifugal force would have caused the edges to collapse inward on the coin, raising and rolling the rim upward. The marks on the upper right side of the obverse are post-mint marks that look deliberately placed there by someone at some point in the last 40-some years.
While the coin is worth face value, it’s still an unusual find!
Best wishes,
Josh
Hello Josh,
A bit off topic, but I found this coin in its case while going through an old toy chest from my childhood. Internet gives widely varying ideas on what its worth. Any input?
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Hi, Don —
You have a very nice 1879-S Morgan dollar that appears to be uncirculated. Generally speaking, the minimum value for an uncirculated 1879-S Morgan dollar is around $45 to $50, but the prices CAN go up from there pretty dramatically. The things that a coin dealer will look for in-person that I can’t really discern in a photo (even though it’s a very good set of pics!) are nicks, scratches, and bumps, which will keep the value low. Absence of those can send the value well into the hundreds of dollars.
If you need info on finding a good coin dealer, check out this link: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/coin_dealer/
Here’s a searchable list of many coin dealers around the country: https://png.memberclicks.net/find-a-png-dealer
Good luck!
Josh
good morning Josh .. how are we??..
I have a couple of coins here for your review and thoughts on to see
if they are worth of any value .. thank you for your time and input ..
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d0d36e1ebbc8623059a6f0d8a933de13f32e14f4fa25d253c9d52723449554e2.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ed27a341d15159ab1a1a829c8abc6642e5a9f741330ac088ca8352c6204c1c61.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c278d4150e57df54a82072d7a295a78f858556e27863660549454f0c122f2207.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/67e7172adf254974c03af1baf69f65cfdf1bc646fa90aba844da8c93bea03edb.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0836bce813a40cf795c078fcc07942a5a86685bf4dd3118a418b6da3187a5c02.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f9201b533ee6cb4c1f5ba92e9b5010bfe361804b24a44f96181e1f6b9a30c90.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/13194ef052c4e785771489fc5a0bcdba033e33aca3cb664b93a9edf1c9bd2a76.jpg
Hello, Sarcastically Crazy! Ooh, those coins definitely have a story to tell of a rough life after their birth at the Mint. This is definitely post-Mint damage, and it looks like that quarter suffered a really bad hit. While it and the dime don’t have any extra numismatic value, they may be worth holing aside as oddities.
Best wishes,
Josh
good evening Josh .. how are we??..
I have a couple of coins here for your review and thoughts on to see
if they are worth of any value .. thank you for your time and input .. 10-18-2017 .. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e14339b504f55ed0b038eeba8a4d35f65c61a18ddf46e96753f1b94974f2b119.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/450ed4b63c8720846901dde80b8bf66a8630f90772ef899ad466b6877d749d1e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/68a7a48b69aa4eece3de4a5f5f2f863b5497c25bba219ae5922dc5cebc64797f.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b6cbcee57b1ffe38dd9cf0e386712c938f793b823551ff661c4dbf9e6965b81.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3062e89f9c25422c13bb3ae2b8a2c6e961e45eda028d88ef3d5c4dde567e428b.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/628dd4d9fac72562965305d1ef06d8dc874c4868e60a41ab5329d96d459f881d.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3d0bd49e6711db8febb482b448871c9abe7af462b54dee987963900680e5a6e1.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c0204ee280f6a78c988da343598d7085aeb49d93941b1e1c7364cbfb07d44b99.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3f94173f595e6ddacfd4b1df9d0d6f507b7127d986b51f337dc93dfad3fc7a9a.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7974fed2797ebb26600c82063a280d2db96b24090a2a4ef23b74e55283363e92.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8570c024e2424cc1dc73ae87390e1fa1e96447eaf557c2d2e6d214a18f76b4bc.jpg
Hello, S.C. —
It’s good to hear from you. I’m afraid the pennies you posted with unusual features all have signs of post-Mint damage. The 1964 cent, however, is worth two cents for its intrinsic copper value, and the 1983 penny shoes no indications in the photos that it is a doubled die.
I hope this info is helpful,
Josh
Hi Josh! I have this I believe large date S penny and these ’67 quarters. Any value here? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/303ef64231e92b3b66a04bdbb95ae5d04a2fc0614bff390941043a84efab6573.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4cb6e0bed2f98872523c1f0636394edf927321e60d033fc8d9cb8544cda7016a.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d6ba1b4c0b219d590808e6a7a244b263d4a25d156567220128294a950b5abd49.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bd19ef8f08c7e6d6e001f09bb7424d7ef857309ceb0a016a495706a950556d53.jpg
Hi, Brandon —
The 1970-S Large Date penny is worth 2 cents for its copper value. Definitely keep your eyes peeled for the 1970-S Small Date penny, which I tell you how and what to look for here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/1970-penny-value/
The 1967 Washington quarters are made from copper-nickel clad and, because they are circulated and have no bullion content (and no evidence of errors or varieties) are worth face value.
Thank you for reaching out!
Josh
I have 7 what looks like 1970-S small date and 2 1970-S large date. It is hard to notice. Also if I am right, there is another way to tell the difference that you did not explain. On the small date, the top of the “S” is even with the bottom of the 9. And on the large date, the top of the “S” is above the bottom of the 9. Doing it that way, it is quite clear which one is which.
Hi, Stephen —
There are other very minute differences, but these are not necessarily reliable because of differences between operating dies, etc.. This is especially true with a diagnostic such as a mintmark, which on the 1970 cent was handpunched and thus can be found in slightly different locations on the obverse. I still highly suggest using the alignment of the tops of the date numerals to distinguish between large dates and small dates.
Please send photos of your coins if you wish and I’ll be glad to assist further!
Cheers,
Josh
Ok I can finally get back to you. Here are 2 images of the 1970-S coins that I have. I marked on the page, which coin is small or large if my measurements are correct. The yellow paper is with my printer and the other is with my phone. If you look at the placement of the “S”, you can see the difference. All of my small date coins have the “S” in the same place. (just below the 9). Oh, on a side note, while looking thru my state quarters, I found the Kansas coin that was missing the “T” in TRUST. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/56da19e4848878df61fd4bbbf6e7790153260cc0bd38b0bc9d9a3e1ae180fb06.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2af33b852005b3730dfb22627b56f0674f53ecf768dd392310e7a635722ff77c.jpg
Hi, Stephen —
The images are a bit fuzzy on my end, but it looks like the 1970-S cent in the upper left, noted as a “Large Date,” may actually be a “Small Date.” If so, nice work. I do see the differences in the “S” mintmark, but without a listing of the various dies used to strike 1970-S cents (large dates and small dates) and images of all mintmark placement, it’s difficult to say what the hard-and-fast rules are concerning mintmark diagnostics and the 1970-S Small Date cents.
On another note, congrats on the Kansas quarter find! They’re worth about $15 to $20 each.
Best wishes,
Josh
i just found a 1970 s double die. i think. it has minor doubling on the in god we trust and the liberty but the date and the s are severely doubled…. and the reverse is severely doubled… what do you think?
Hi, Olivia —
To help you further with your 1969-S and 1970-S penny inquiries I need to please see clear photos of each coin, and those pics can be posted here in the comments section.
Thank you,
Josh