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Guide to Large and Small Date Lincoln Cents

Here’s a guide to telling them apart and what they’re worth. It covers the following:

  1. 1982 P & D varieties;
  2. 1974 P, D, & S varieties;
  3. 1970 S varieties; and
  4. 1960 P & D varieties

Intro #

A “variety” is a group of coins that share distinctive characteristics — either due to an intentional redesign of the coin, or an unintended flaw/error in a die that produces a group of coins. The latter are often referred to as errors.

Large- and small-date Lincoln cent varieties exist due to intentional modifications of the design — as such, they’re not errors. These modifications were, for example, due to deterioration of the master die or other unknown reasons. The Mint isn’t public with these details — and generally disavows that varieties exist, since its goal is more about keeping coins in circulation rather than identifying any reason for people to hold onto them.

These modifications are very slight, often with one number of the date being changed (like, its position or shape), but other details can often assist distinction between / among the varieties.

1982 P & D varieties #

Starting with the most well-known year in our list, there are EIGHT business-strike varieties of Lincoln cents from 1982.

The reason is that 1982 not only had a minor redesign (resulting in small and large dates), but was the year that the Mint transitioned the cent from a 95% copper composition to copper-plated zinc (resulting in copper and zinc versions). And, there are Philadelphia issues (with no mint mark) and Denver issues (with a “D” mint mark) of each.

Here’s a table:

Philly issues Denver issues
copper large-date 1982 copper large-date 1982-D
copper small-date 1982 copper small-date 1982-D
zinc large-date 1982 zinc large-date 1982-D
zinc small-date 1982 zinc small-date 1982-D

Only ONE of these eight varieties is valuable — the copper small-date 1982-D — because it’s so rare. In fact, it wasn’t confirmed to even exist until a few years ago. Only two have been discovered so far, the first having sold in 2017 for $18,000; and the second having sold in 2019 for $10,800 (source).

It’s so rare because the Denver mint — or so it had been thought — had already coined all of its copper planchets prior to the design change.

Whatever the reason, the fact is that the rest of the 1982 varieties are all common.

So whether you’re looking to collect as many 1982 varieties as you can, or wondering if you struck it rich, here’s how to tell what kind of 1982 cent you have.

To discern between copper and zinc:

  • Weigh your cent. Copper cents are heavier than zinc cents.
  • Copper cents weigh 3.11g.
  • Zinc cents weigh 2.50g.

To discern between small- and large-date:

  • Look at the diagonal of the “2”. A large-date 2 has a straight diagonal, and a small-date 2 has a curved diagonal.
  • Also, look at the base of the “2”. A large-date 2 has a thick, fat base; whereas the base of a small-date 2 is thinner and gently tapers.
  • These differences are easy to spot when you know what to look for! See the images below.
Focus on the differences in the “2”.
Detail to show differences in bar of “2”.
Detail to show differences in diagonal of “2”.

Bottom line, to determine if you found the ultra-rare copper small-date 1982-D:

  1. Your cent has to have a “D” mint mark,
  2. Your cent has to be copper, and
  3. Your cent has to be the small-date version.

1974 P, D, & S varieties #

Apparently, the Mint produced and used two new master dies in 1974, changing from one to the other at some point during the year. The very slight difference between the two dies is noticeable — and the same — on cents produced at all three mints.

The 1974 varieties aren’t as popular among collectors as other Lincoln cent varieties because it’s just as easy to find both types in circulation, and also because the differences are so minor — and difficult to see. As a result, neither variety is worth any more than the other. Some coin catalogs don’t even list that there are two varieties.

To discern between large- and small-date:

  • The best way to distinguish is by looking at the “4”.  In the large date (also referred to as Type I), the cross bar extends further to the left than the small date (also referred to as Type II).
  • A secondary indicator is that IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY, are positioned closer to the design rim on the large-date variety.
  • Have a look at the images below to see the differences.
The main difference is the slightly longer cross-bar of the “4” in the large date.
Detail to show difference in spacing of letters from rim.
Detail to show difference in spacing of “L” from rim.

1970 S varieties #

Curiously, although large- and small-date varieties exist on coins produced across all mints in the other years listed here, large- and small-date varieties in 1970 only exist on “S” mint cents — but in both proof and business-strike issues.

Among 1970-S cents, small-date varieties are the ones that have value, being considerably less common than their large-date counterparts. In uncirculated condition, a small date 1970-S cent can be worth $40 or more, as can a small date 1970-S proof cent.

To discern between large- and small-date:

  • Look at the loop of the “9”. If it is angled toward the S — or, the tip points “south-east” — it is a large date. If it bends sharply toward the 7 — or, the tip points “east” — it is a small date.
  • Also, look at the top bar of the “7”. If it’s lower than the tops of the 9 and the 0, it’s a large date. If it’s about level with the tops of these numbers, it’s a small date.
  • See the images below.
Arrows show orientation of inner loop of 9. Dashed lines show top of “7”.

1960 P & D varieties #

There are four business-strike varieties of Lincoln cents from 1960, with small- and large-date varieties seen in both Philadelphia issues (with no mint mark) and Denver issues (with a “D” mint mark) of each.

There are also two proof varieties — the same small- and large-date versions — which were also minted in Philadelphia and have no mint mark.

Here they are in a table:

Philly proof issues Philly regular issues Denver issues
large-date 1960 large-date 1960 large-date 1960-D
small-date 1960 small-date 1960 small-date 1960-D

Of these, only the small-date Philly issues are considered rare, in both proof and business strike, with the other varieties being common.

To discern between large- and small-date:

  • Look at the tail of the “6”. It reaches higher in the large-date variety than in a small date.
  • Also, look at the top of the “9”. If it’s higher than the tops of the 1 and the 0, it’s a large date. If it’s about level with the tops of these numbers, it’s a small date.
  • And finally, look at the “0”. It’s round in the large-date variety, and elliptical in a small date.
  • See the images below.
Dashed lines show the “high 9” that characterizes the large-date variety.

Hope this guide is helpful in determining what variety you found!

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