Small Dates vs. Large Dates

[jcuve]

In an effort to reacquaint myself with the differences between SD and LD on the four (4) known years where such varieties occurred, the following comparative collages have been produced.

As noted in multiple sources (including this site, LCR) some common points of differentiation are:

1960 SD, the 9 is almost the same height as the 1 and 0; and the inner loops of the 9 & 6 have different heights.

1970S SD: the 7 is almost the same height as the 9 & 0, the inner loop of the 9 points at the middle of the 7 (LD points at the base of the 7); LIBERTY lacks detail and is mushy in appearance. (Proofs have the same diagnostics)

1974 SD the 9 & 7 are thinner; the 4 is narrow with the triangle inside also being narrower; the lapel catches the light and appears raised on the LD; the bow tie is different; the motto and date are closer to the rim on the LD; and the details in the hair and portrait are mushier than SD but crisper and showing more detail on the LD.

1982 SD is naked eye obvious, date and motto are a clear crisp font; the 2 is different: the SD has a curved stem from the bottom whereas the LD is straighter.

1960 P & D:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww322/jcuve/1960SD-LDb.jpg

1970 S:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww322/jcuve/1970SSD-LDa.jpg

1974 P, D, & S:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww322/jcuve/1974SD-LDc.jpg

1982 P, D & S:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/ww322/jcuve/1982SD-LDb.jpg

[hasfam]

Great job Jason. Nice pics and diagnostics. This will help a lot of people. Thanks for sharing it.
Funny, but some of the Lincoln set books ie, Dansco, Intercept etc will have holes for the 1960, 1970-S and 1982's large and small dates but you never see holes for the 1974.
Rock

[Brad]

WOW. Very Nice!

[mustbebob]

Very well done. I do have a observation though. The 1974 Large Date can take on the appearance of extra thickness (almost to extreme). Many folks have confused these as class 6 doubled dies. The following link shows what a large date looks like. Your large date photo for some reason does not look like these, but that may be something else like the angle of the photo or lighting..

http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1974&die_id=1974d1mm006&die_state=mds

[jcuve]

Very well done. I do have a observation though. The 1974 Large Date can take on the appearance of extra thickness (almost to extreme). Many folks have confused these as class 6 doubled dies. The following link shows what a large date looks like. Your large date photo for some reason does not look like these, but that may be something else like the angle of the photo or lighting...


Thanks Bob. Keeping what you said in mind I reshot the date and graphed it on to my collage. I think it shows the thickness of the numbers better. My original shot was influenced by the lighting where I was trying to catch the edge of the lapel.

[mustbebob]

You can definitely see the difference with the newer photo Jason. Thanks for having another look.

[1sgret]

Great information and excellent photos Jason.

[AgCollector]

Wonderful pictures and notes- thanks!

[jcuve]

Thanks everyone!

If one were to lay a table full of '74s (mixed with SDs and LDs), out on a table, then place a light, low and to the left, you can pick out the LDs without magnification by the way the light hits the edge of the lapel.

[celartu]

I have great difficulty disthinghising rhese error, but learn slowly

[JeanK]

Great work Jason! Your lessons are invaluable to all Lincoln collectors.

celartu,
Do not worry, identification gets easier as you learn more.
Do you have good access to Lincoln cents in San Salvador?
Jean

[jcuve]

It is only easy to determine one from another after seeing them many times in person. I still have to think about it when I am looking at 1960 for example; I have to go through an inventory in my mind to make sure I am on the right track.

But with so many varieties to look for it sure can be fun going through Lincoln cents!

[trails]

The one think also to remember is that the motto, the date and the L of LIBERTY are all closer to the rim on the large dates of the 1974 and the 1982. Also, the 4 of the 1974 and the 2 of the 1982 are different font styles.

BJ Neff

[duxbutt]

Awesome info. Thanks for this.

[mousey70]

Excellent post Jason. Thanks. mousey

[abe]

The one think also to remember is that the motto, the date and the L of LIBERTY are all closer to the rim on the large dates of the 1974 and the 1982. Also, the 4 of the 1974 and the 2 of the 1982 are different font styles.

BJ NeffI always thought this was the easiest way to tell the difference on the 74's. A quick look at the motto and job done.:)

[copperlover]

Thanks again Jason & BJ.We will all be needing those images real soon. There are many varities to find in the 60s, 70s & 80's from the three mints. AWSOME.

Lucien

[Voyager17]

The Best Accurate way to compare Large and Small dates I have seen on the NET.Thanks your photos...God Bless!

[lara4228]

That a way to go! Keep reading and learning. These little editorials helped me tremendously! I can't tell you how much I was able to understand using these threads.

[Voyager17]

Thanks Lara...you are true Friend,indeed.God Bless!

[Paul]

Thanks Jason

I printed the pictures to use as a reference.

[papascoins]

All out of thanks Jason. Great Job! And thanks for taking the time!

[coppercoins]

Jason - I also noted early on in my search through 1974 cents that the entire motto on the large date nearly touches the rim, and on the small date there is notable space between the motto and the rim.

celartu - These are varieties, not errors. Errors are all unintentional. These are intentional design changes.

[jcuve]

Jason - I also noted early on in my search through 1974 cents that the entire motto on the large date nearly touches the rim, and on the small date there is notable space between the motto and the rim.

celartu - These are varieties, not errors. Errors are all unintentional. These are intentional design changes.

Thanks Chuck, noted and amended above...

[EgCollector]

Very informative and educational .... thank you very much Jason