Penny · 1970
1970 Memorial Penny Value
A 1970 penny is worth $0.01 to $1.08 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1970 penny
The 1970 cent is a regular circulation issue, struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc), weighing 3.11 g, 19 mm across, from a design by Victor David Brenner. It was struck at Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco — 5,480,313,904 coins in all.
For scale, 1970 mintage was 45% lower than in 1975, when 9,956,751,442 were struck.
San Francisco made the fewest at 690,560,004, against 2,891,438,900 from Denver — a 4-to-1 difference, and the one number on this page most likely to matter if the date is ever collected seriously.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | 2,891,438,9002891.4M | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.11 | $0.17 | $0.17 | $0.20 | $0.56 |
| No mint mark | 1,898,315,0001898.3M | $0.03 | $0.08 | $0.08 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.14 | $0.77 |
| S | 690,560,004690.6M | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.21 | $0.22 | $0.27 | $1.08 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1970 penny
What if it has already been cleaned?
Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.
Where is the mint mark
It sits on the obverse, just below the date. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →
Proof and collector versions
Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 2 collector versions of the 1970 1970 penny — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets.These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 2,632,810.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 2,632,8102.6M | $1.74 |
| Proof (small date) | S | —— | $0.91 |
Rare varieties of this year
These are the coins worth looking for. Each one is a different die or planchet from the regular issue above, and each is priced separately.
Mint mark S — Small date, level "7"
Mintage: unknown.
Mint mark S — Doubled Die Obverse
Mintage: unknown.
What to do with your 1970 penny
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Check the varieties
Go back through the 2 varieties above before deciding what you have — the difference between the common coin and the valuable one is usually a single detail.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 5,480,313,904 and a best circulated value of $1.08, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.
Where to sell
Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.
Specifications
1 Cent "Lincoln Memorial Cent" (Bronze)
- Composition
- Bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc)
- Weight
- 3.11 g
- Diameter
- 19 mm
- Thickness
- 1.3 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- Victor David Brenner
- Mints
- United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco
FAQ
How much is a 1970 penny worth?
A circulated 1970 penny is worth $0.01 to $1.08 depending on condition and mint mark.
How many 1970 pennies were made?
About 5,480,313,904 in total — Denver 2,891,438,900, Philadelphia 1,898,315,000, San Francisco 690,560,004.
Are there rare 1970 penny varieties?
Yes — 2 are catalogued for this date: Small date, level "7"; Doubled Die Obverse. They are priced separately from the ordinary coin.
What is the S penny from 1970?
An S mint mark on a 1970 penny means a collector coin from San Francisco — 2 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 2,632,810. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1970 penny graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $1.08, from a mintage of 5,480,313,904 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
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