1974 Types

[Brad]

I know these are the two types of 1974 Cents. Does anyone know which was produced first?

[Wheat Cents]

The first master hub used in 1974 was - the Large Date Hub. ( The same obverse hub from 1973)

Mid-way through 1974 a second master hub was used - the Small Date Hub.

Your photo on the left is the Large Date, the photo on the right is the Small Date.

[snowman]

Here is some 1974 useless trival information if anyone is interested

of all the 74 P's that passed by my desk so far

28% have been type 1's (total count 219) &

72% have been type 2's (total count 562)

the D's an S's count is still too small to consider especially living here in NYS, I've always wonder what the odds are and have been keeping track for about a year. I might stop keeping track later this year

Snowman

[wavysteps]

The reasoning behind the change from the large date to the small date is fairly simple. In 1969 a new obverse galvano was used for the Lincoln cent. In the proceeding years, with the increased production of that type coin, the obverse master die began to spread. If you remember, the 1968 master die had "IN GOD WE TRUST" merging into the rim along with the L of LIBERTY. This was caused by years of using the master hub from the previous year to make the master die.

In 1974, the mint saw the same problem arising; the "IN GOD WE TRUST" was again becoming to close to the rim. So, the small date was made (presumably from the 1969 obverse galvano) to correct that problem.

Thus, the large date was used first, followed by the small date.

Fast shift to 1982 and the same scenario plays out. The large date is running into the same problem of having design elements to close to the rim. This is corrected by introducing the small date, with those design elements spaced closer to the center.

BJ Neff

[snowman]

here is an atricle i saw a few years ago by David Lange at NGC that got me interesting in what the odds was between the 2 types because the most i ever seen were the 74 type 2's

http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?NewsletterNewsArticleID=246

[Brad]

Are these usually called "Small Date"/"Large Date" or "Type I"/"Type II" ?

[Brad]

Fast shift to 1982 and the same scenario plays out. The large date is running into the same problem of having design elements to close to the rim. This is corrected by introducing the small date, with those design elements spaced closer to the center.

BJ Neff


Is this also how the 1970 S small date was created?

[wavysteps]

The real reason behind why the MINT used a small date 1970 is still in question. The only change was the actual 7 digit and then it was only used at the San Francisco MINT.

With the other 2 large date to small date changes, out of the 4, (we can not forget the 1960 Lincoln cent), more than one digit was changed.

On the article by David W. Lange. It is interesting and I can follow his conjectures, however, there is one sticking point that I do question. While small changes can be made to the master hub, large changes, such as the reduction of Lincoln's bust and repositioning of the peripheral design elements can not be accomplished by hub re-engraving. This must be accomplished by the use of a new galvano. This is what I believe happened in 1974.

BJ Neff

[Brad]

The only change was the actual 7 digit and then it was only used at the San Francisco MINT.




The 9 looks changed to me. So does the Zero.

[car10]

The 9 looks changed to me. So does the Zero.
I'd agree, especially the 9.

[wavysteps]

When I said the 7 was the only digit changed in the s\mall date I was thinking position. You are correct, the 9 digit is different, although it maintains the same position as in the large date. The upper terminus of the small date 9 digit is more on a horizontal plane than the large date 9 digit. That terminus seems to be at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal plane. However, I'll debate the 0 digit being different; if my memory serves me correctly, I did an overlay and they seemed to match in both size and position.

BJ Neff

[FenderBender]

Guys, was there ever a slight change in position of the date or mint mark on the 1974? I ask because my kid thought it was a little different and I compared a couple of 74 Ds side by side and it appeared the date may have been higher on one of them and if I had to venture a guess, it would appear to be a small date...Not positve though.