1970 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

Last 40% silver Kennedy halves

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1970 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 1,898,315,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (89 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 2,891,438,900
Mintage Ranking for Type: (82 of 126)

San Francisco large date (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 690,560,004
Mintage Ranking for Type: (111 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 2,632,810
Mintage Ranking for Type: (42 of 54)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 2,632,810
Mintage Ranking for Type: (42 of 54)

1970 in history

1970 was the last year Kennedy half dollars contained 40 percent silver for regular mint issues.
Lincoln cents remained bronze as inflation began creeping upward after years of relative stability.
The first Earth Day was observed on April 22, launching the modern environmental movement.
The Environmental Protection Agency was created to enforce federal pollution standards.
The Beatles announced their breakup in April.
U.S. troops invaded Cambodia briefly, triggering campus protests including the Kent State shootings.
The Voting Rights Act was extended and expanded protections for minority voters.
The Concorde supersonic airliner made its first supersonic test flight.

1970 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1970 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1970

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 1,898,315,000
Mintage Ranking for Type: (89 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 2,891,438,900
Mintage Ranking for Type: (82 of 126)

San Francisco large date (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage: 690,560,004
Mintage Ranking for Type: (111 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 2,632,810
Mintage Ranking for Type: (42 of 54)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage: 2,632,810
Mintage Ranking for Type: (42 of 54)

1970 in history What else was happening that year

1970 was the last year Kennedy half dollars contained 40 percent silver for regular mint issues.
Lincoln cents remained bronze as inflation began creeping upward after years of relative stability.
The first Earth Day was observed on April 22, launching the modern environmental movement.
The Environmental Protection Agency was created to enforce federal pollution standards.
The Beatles announced their breakup in April.
U.S. troops invaded Cambodia briefly, triggering campus protests including the Kent State shootings.
The Voting Rights Act was extended and expanded protections for minority voters.
The Concorde supersonic airliner made its first supersonic test flight.

1970 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1970 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Key Dates & Errors Key dates, valuable errors, and genuine vs fake guidance for 1970

1970-S Small Date Semi-key date

Small Date attribution and related diagnostics affect both identity and authenticity.

Research for this issue is in progress. Check back as diagnostics and photos are added.

Open the 1970-S Small Date (semi-key date) information page.

See the list of all key dates and errors in Lincoln cents

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1970

Obverse design types (ODT)

1970-S small date obverse — ODT17 · 1970
1970-S large date obverse — ODT18 · 1970–1972 · 1974 · business

See the design types reference. Design types identify engraved designs; when differing designs create collectible alternatives within a year, see Lincoln cent design varieties.

Design Varieties for 1970 Within-year design differences for 1970

Collectible within-year design differences for 1970 — for example large and small dates, Wide AM or Close AM spacing, transitional designs, or alternate obverse and reverse designs. These are design varieties, not die varieties (doubled dies, RPMs).

See all Lincoln cent design varieties · Die Search for 1970 · Design types (ODT / RDT)

Mint mark types Punch styles used on 1970 Lincoln cents

Pointed Serif-D — 1964 · business · 1968–1979
Late-Serif S — 1951–1955 · business · 1968–1970
Ragged-S — 1970–1974

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1970 cents

1970 Lincoln cents from the CopperCoins series price guide (August/September 2026 edition) — approximate values only, not offers to buy or sell. Business strikes show separate BN, RB, and RD lines where priced.

Business strike

Issue	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	EF40	EF45
1970-P BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-P RB
1970-P RD
1970-D BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-D RB
1970-D RD
1970-S LARGE DATE BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-S LARGE DATE RB
1970-S LARGE DATE RD
1970-S LG DATE BN	0	0	0	0	0
1970-S LG DATE RB
1970-S LG DATE RD
1970-S SM DATE BN	9.20	10.25	11.50	12.75	13.75
1970-S SM DATE RB
1970-S SM DATE RD
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	1	1.25	1.50	1.75	2	2.50
1970-S SMALL DATE RB
1970-S SMALL DATE RD

Issue	AU50	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61
1970-P BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.05
1970-P RB
1970-P RD
1970-D BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.05
1970-D RB
1970-D RD
1970-S LARGE DATE BN
1970-S LARGE DATE RB
1970-S LARGE DATE RD
1970-S LG DATE BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.10
1970-S LG DATE RB
1970-S LG DATE RD
1970-S SM DATE BN	15	16	17.25	18.50	20.75	23
1970-S SM DATE RB					23	25.25
1970-S SM DATE RD
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	3	3.50	3.75	4	5.50	6
1970-S SMALL DATE RB					8	10
1970-S SMALL DATE RD					18	24

Issue	MS62	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67
1970-P BN	0.10	0.10	0.60	2.40	6.25
1970-P RB		0.60	2	4.80	11.25
1970-P RD		8	8.60	12	25.50	181
1970-D BN	0.10	0.10	0.60	2.40	10
1970-D RB		0.60	2.30	6.60	16.25
1970-D RD	7	10	10.25	13.50	48.25	425
1970-S LARGE DATE BN			1	1	4
1970-S LARGE DATE RB		2	3	4	18	240
1970-S LARGE DATE RD		12	16	20	32	275
1970-S LG DATE BN	0.10	0.15	0.60	2.40	10
1970-S LG DATE RB		0.60	2.40	7.20	15
1970-S LG DATE RD			9	15.50	35	200
1970-S SM DATE BN	24.25	27.50	30	33.50	56.50
1970-S SM DATE RB	27.50	30	32.50	39.50	87.50
1970-S SM DATE RD	31	36	42	54	120	660
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	10	18.50	23	32.50	70
1970-S SMALL DATE RB	15	24	30	60	75
1970-S SMALL DATE RD	30	50	60	85	190	750

Issue	G4	VG8	F12	VF20	EF40	EF45
1970-P BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-P RB
1970-P RD
1970-D BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-D RB
1970-D RD
1970-S LARGE DATE BN	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05
1970-S LARGE DATE RB
1970-S LARGE DATE RD
1970-S LG DATE BN	0	0	0	0	0
1970-S LG DATE RB
1970-S LG DATE RD
1970-S SM DATE BN	9.20	10.25	11.50	12.75	13.75
1970-S SM DATE RB
1970-S SM DATE RD
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	1	1.25	1.50	1.75	2	2.50
1970-S SMALL DATE RB
1970-S SMALL DATE RD

Issue	AU50	AU53	AU55	AU58	MS60	MS61
1970-P BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.05
1970-P RB
1970-P RD
1970-D BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.05
1970-D RB
1970-D RD
1970-S LARGE DATE BN
1970-S LARGE DATE RB
1970-S LARGE DATE RD
1970-S LG DATE BN	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.10
1970-S LG DATE RB
1970-S LG DATE RD
1970-S SM DATE BN	15	16	17.25	18.50	20.75	23
1970-S SM DATE RB					23	25.25
1970-S SM DATE RD
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	3	3.50	3.75	4	5.50	6
1970-S SMALL DATE RB					8	10
1970-S SMALL DATE RD					18	24

Issue	MS62	MS63	MS64	MS65	MS66	MS67
1970-P BN	0.10	0.10	0.60	2.40	6.25
1970-P RB		0.60	2	4.80	11.25
1970-P RD		8	8.60	12	25.50	181
1970-D BN	0.10	0.10	0.60	2.40	10
1970-D RB		0.60	2.30	6.60	16.25
1970-D RD	7	10	10.25	13.50	48.25	425
1970-S LARGE DATE BN			1	1	4
1970-S LARGE DATE RB		2	3	4	18	240
1970-S LARGE DATE RD		12	16	20	32	275
1970-S LG DATE BN	0.10	0.15	0.60	2.40	10
1970-S LG DATE RB		0.60	2.40	7.20	15
1970-S LG DATE RD			9	15.50	35	200
1970-S SM DATE BN	24.25	27.50	30	33.50	56.50
1970-S SM DATE RB	27.50	30	32.50	39.50	87.50
1970-S SM DATE RD	31	36	42	54	120	660
1970-S SMALL DATE BN	10	18.50	23	32.50	70
1970-S SMALL DATE RB	15	24	30	60	75
1970-S SMALL DATE RD	30	50	60	85	190	750

Proof

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
1970-S RD	0.50	0.65	1.40	2.40
1970-S CAM
1970-S DCAM
1970-S SD DCAM	40			65
1970-S SM DATE RD	20.75	21.75	23	26.50
1970-S SM DT CAM
1970-S SM DT DCAM

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
1970-S RD	6	7.80	10.75	18.75
1970-S CAM	7.20	9.60	18	27.50
1970-S DCAM	9.60	13.25	25.25	42.50
1970-S SD DCAM	70	78	95	150
1970-S SM DATE RD	43.25	50.50	60	85
1970-S SM DT CAM	53	62.50	81.50	110
1970-S SM DT DCAM	69.50	86.50	144	250

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
1970-S RD	23.75	45	1,200
1970-S CAM	37.50	156
1970-S DCAM	70	650
1970-S SD DCAM
1970-S SM DATE RD	225	690
1970-S SM DT CAM	200	860
1970-S SM DT DCAM	580	7,800

Issue	PR60	PR61	PR62	PR63
1970-S RD	0.50	0.65	1.40	2.40
1970-S CAM
1970-S DCAM
1970-S SD DCAM	40			65
1970-S SM DATE RD	20.75	21.75	23	26.50
1970-S SM DT CAM
1970-S SM DT DCAM

Issue	PR64	PR65	PR66	PR67
1970-S RD	6	7.80	10.75	18.75
1970-S CAM	7.20	9.60	18	27.50
1970-S DCAM	9.60	13.25	25.25	42.50
1970-S SD DCAM	70	78	95	150
1970-S SM DATE RD	43.25	50.50	60	85
1970-S SM DT CAM	53	62.50	81.50	110
1970-S SM DT DCAM	69.50	86.50	144	250

Issue	PR68	PR69	PR70
1970-S RD	23.75	45	1,200
1970-S CAM	37.50	156
1970-S DCAM	70	650
1970-S SD DCAM
1970-S SM DATE RD	225	690
1970-S SM DT CAM	200	860
1970-S SM DT DCAM	580	7,800

Articles and videos Related reading and watching for 1970

Videos related to 1970 Lincoln cents

Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1970 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1970—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1970 dies Variety value guide for 1970

Catalogued dies for 1970

Number of assigned dies in the CopperCoins catalog, by mint and variety type. Click a count to search that group.

Mint	DO	DR	MM	Total
Philadelphia (P)	11	0	N/A	11
Denver (D)	14	0	10	24
San Francisco (S)	42	1	6	49
All mints	67	1	16	84

Variety plate coin videos Roll-reveal videos that sourced plate coins for 1970 dies

Videos on our YouTube channel that show when the plate coins for these dies were found in CopperCoins roll reveal videos.

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