Question on the 1979 S Lincoln

chooksey · New Member

In the Lincoln album there are two slot for the 1979-S..
One is for Type I and the other is Type II. What are the differences between the two? And what would this cent shown below be...Type I or II if anything?
Thanks.

eagames · Expert Member

The type 2 has a clearer mintmark.

Yours looks like type 1.

The type 2 is less blobby and clearer. Looks thinner and more open.

All of the 79-S proofs are one of the 2 types. Type 2 is worth about a dollar more.

coop · Expert Member

Ed: I was trying to find your link.... But glad you were here.

If you want to see what a type 2 looks like, check 1980. The type one there is the type 2 for 1979. Boy I bet that is as clear as mudd??

chooksey · New Member

coppercoins · Site Admin

Type 2 is slightly less common and only a little more difficult to find. There are also two types for 1981. They are far more difficult to discern, and one is far scarcer and actually worth quite a bit.

eagames · Expert Member

On 81-S proofs the type 1 is (as Coop stated about 80-S) about the same as type 2 for 79-S then the 81-S type 2 is rare and hard to find, worth about $50.

Many 81-S type 2s are mis-attributed. They're harder to tell apart than 79-S but there's a trick. The trick is the rare type 2 is a lot like the type 1 (being sort of clear) but it looks flatter. It almost looks (looks same but I think is a different punch) the same but looks sort of like they sanded the surface to be flatter so it has a flatter plain on the top surface and some grainy look like it was sanded flat. Don't buy one unless you understand the differance because so many are mis-attributed or in holders from grading companies but attributed wrong.

Russellhome · Veteran Member

It is important to know that Type I and Type II mintmarks are different designs - It is not just about the 'S' being a clear 'S' or not. Depending on how deep a mintmark is punched and how well (if any) the inner loops of the S are polished, Type II mint marks can look very different from one another. I've picked up a few 1979 S Type II coins that were not properly identifed because who ever examined them did not think the 'S' was clear enough. I did a chart that shows a side-by-side from Cent to Dollar. As you can see, some of the Type II mint marks look very different.

The Type I 'blob' mint marks I've seen are always pretty much the same, but I've heard that they too can look clearer than the ones I've shown. I look at the conture of the outer lower and upper loops of the 'S'. On the type II it is almost completely round. On the type one, it is less rounded then makes a sharper turn at the 2 corners with the serif.

Dick · Expert Member

No wonder I was confused. I kept wondering what that other type was. I have seen all three, but thought they would state which one was the type three. Okay, now I know. Real nice set of MM. I'll refer to then, quite often, you can be sure. THanks for the presentation,.
Dick