1970-s wide date

[bruce 1947]

Sunday I found a 1970-s and I am sure it is a small date with the date and mint mark twice as wide as a normal 1970-s coin.The grade of the coin is maybe at best vg-8 at first I thought that it was hit with something but the reverse shows no sigh of that. And if the obervise was hit surley it would show on the reverse.And CHUCK'S book has no listing of this type.Any help you can give me I would appreiate.

[Steven]

What does LIBERTY look like. Does it appear normal. Can you post a picture.

Steven

[bruce 1947]

Hi Steven
The word liberty is very weak particularly on the ty sorry I can not post a picture I do not have a camera yet.

[Bob P]

Steven,
The thickness or width of the date and mintmark on 1970S coins has nothing to do with whether it is a small or large date.
The diagnostics like Chuck mentions in his book are what you need to compare in order to determine if you have a small date or not. Since the coin is a vg specimen, it may be a little more difficult to determine, but still possible.
A picture or examination by myself or Chuck could help you verify what you may have.

[bruce 1947]

BOB
The coin belongs to me not Steven and it is a small date.I just did not find any pictures or info on a 1970-s with such a wide date and mint mark.

[bruce 1947]

By the way thank you Steven.

[Steven]

bruce 1947
Bob is correct in the determination of the small date verification especially in VG or a lesser grade being more difficult and when you can, good photos or submission may be needed to be for sure. I mentioned LIBERTY earlier wondering if the lettering was week, one of the indicators in Chuck's book. Your question about the wide date and MM could be also due to the VG grade. The wear from circulation can flatten/spread caracteristics of the coin. My guess due to your mentioning date and MM both were both wide.

Just my opinion I am fairly new at this.
Steven

[Bob P]

Sorry Bruce....I meant to type your name rather than Steve's when I responded yesterday. I believe your question should have been answered by now, but you keep mentioning a 'wide date and mintmark'. As stated earlier, I have not heard of this anomaly or seen anything to make me believe is nothing more than wear on the coin. Again, close examination would allow me the opportunity to see if in fact that is the case, or that you may have found something unique.

[bruce 1947]

BOB it could be nothing more than wear on the coin as you say.
I just thought that the reverse should show as much wear as the obverse.And when the wear was alot lighter on the reverse
I just assumed I had something thanks to both of you.

[Bob P]

I understand Bruce. Something you may not have realized is that on many occasions, either the obverse or reverse die will be changed. They don't always start out as a pair. If during inspections of the coins after being struck, the techs find damage or errors, they may opt to change out only one of the dies. That may explain why they wear on the obverse of your coin is more than the reverse.

[bruce 1947]

HI BOB
I did not realize that, thank you for pointing that out to me. I am reading Chuck's book a little at a time, sometimes I read a chapter two or three times there is so much to learn it is nice to have a place to go like this to get help thanks again.

[coppercoins]

ALWAYS look for the crease running across the corner of the 7 of the date. If it's there you have a large date.

The thickness of the date digits have nothing to do with determining whether you have a small date. It's all in the 7 and the shape of the 9. LIBERTY provides a decent reference for those who have seen enough 1970s cents to know what a weak LIBERTY looks like, but it is a poor pick up point for inexperienced collectors.

Once you get used to looking at them and can pick the difference rather easily you'll be able to spot the small dates at a glance under a 5X loupe. I know, I haven't gone to a show in two years without finding a small date and paying large date prices for it, and I have attended dozens of shows in that time period.