How to Find a 1970-S Small Date Lincoln Cent

The 1970-S Small Date Lincoln cent, also known to collectors as the “High 7” variety, is a scarce date-punch variation from the San Francisco Mint. Unlike the common 1970-S Large Date that most collectors encounter, the Small Date is genuinely difficult to find in top condition and commands real premiums across the grading scale.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

What makes the 1970-S Small Date cent important to collectors?

The U.S. Mint changed its date punch partway through 1970 production at San Francisco, creating two recognizable date styles on cents from that year and mint. According to PCGS, the Small Date is the scarcer of the two in business-strike form, with prices for genuine examples ranging from around $20 in circulated grades up into five figures for the finest certified Mint State coins.

Both business-strike and proof versions of the Small Date exist, and PCGS notes the proof version is identified using the same diagnostics as the business strike. Proof Small Date cents in the highest Deep Cameo grades have sold for thousands of dollars, reflecting demand for the variety in both formats.

How to identify a 1970-S Small Date cent

PCGS identifies four diagnostic checkpoints, used together, to confirm a genuine Small Date:

• The “High 7”: on the Small Date, the top of the “7” aligns evenly with the tops of the “9” and the two “0”s—all four digits sit level along an imaginary line across the top of the date. On the Large Date, the “7” sits noticeably lower than its neighbors.
• The “hooked 9”: the inner loop of the “9” curls more tightly and points differently than on the Large Date.
• LIBERTY weakness: the word LIBERTY on the Small Date typically strikes softer and mushier than the bold, well-defined LIBERTY on the Large Date.
• A surface crease near the 7: a subtle die characteristic near the “7” that collectors use as a supporting check alongside the date alignment.

Compare all four points together rather than relying on any single one, since wear or a weak strike can make an individual feature harder to judge in isolation.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

Because the difference between Small Date and Large Date hinges on precise date-punch details, and because the variety carries a real premium, a certified example from PCGS or NGC that explicitly attributes the coin as “Small Date” removes the guesswork. Verify the certification number on the grading service’s own website before paying a premium price.

Understanding grades and color designations

As with other copper-plated Lincoln cents of this era, certified examples carry a color designation:

• BN — Brown: most of the original red color has changed to brown.
• RB — Red-Brown: a mixture of red and brown remains.
• RD — Red: most of the original mint-red color remains.

Value climbs steeply with grade. Business-strike examples have reportedly traded from roughly $20 in circulated condition up to $10,000 or more in the finest certified MS67+ Red grades, and proof Small Date cents in top Deep Cameo grades have reportedly sold for close to $18,000 at auction.

Problem coins

Cleaning, spotting, corrosion, and environmental damage reduce both eye appeal and value, the same as with any copper-plated zinc cent. A details-graded example can be a lower-cost way to own the variety, but the stated problem should be reflected in the price.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1970-S Small Date cent,” “1970-S High 7 penny,” or “1970-S Small Date Lincoln cent.”

Then narrow by:

• Strike type: business strike or proof
• Grade: from circulated grades through MS67+ or PR69
• Color designation: RD, RB, BN (business strikes) or Cameo/Deep Cameo (proofs)
• Certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1970-S Small Date”

Be careful not to confuse this with the common 1970-S Large Date, which does not carry the same premium.

Availability and pricing notes

Because the variety is scarce relative to the common Large Date, availability can be limited, especially in high Mint State or top proof grades. Listings and asking prices don’t necessarily represent completed-sale values, so compare multiple certified examples and confirm the attribution before buying.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1970-S Small Date Lincoln cent” to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by strike type, grade, color designation, certification, and asking price.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example isn’t available, save it as a wishlist item.
4. Get notified about new matches. GetCoinHunt sends an alert when new dealer inventory matches your wishlist.
5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Verify certification and photographs, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

What is the “High 7” variety?

It’s another name for the 1970-S Small Date, referring to how the top of the “7” in the date aligns evenly with the “9” and both “0”s, unlike the lower “7” on the common Large Date.

How do I tell Small Date from Large Date on a 1970-S cent?

Check whether all four date digits align along the top (Small Date/High 7) or whether the “7” sits noticeably lower than its neighbors (Large Date). A hooked “9” and softer LIBERTY are supporting diagnostics for the Small Date.

Is the 1970-S Small Date rare?

It’s scarce rather than extremely rare, but it’s genuinely harder to find than the common Large Date, especially in high Mint State and top proof grades, where it commands substantial premiums.

Does the Small Date exist in proof as well as business strike?

Yes. Both business-strike and proof 1970-S Small Date cents exist, identified using the same date-alignment diagnostics, and both carry premiums over their Large Date counterparts.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

Add “1970-S Small Date Lincoln cent” to your wishlist below. You’ll be notified when newly detected dealer inventory matches your search.

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