Penny · 1970
1970 Memorial Penny Value
A 1970 penny is worth $0.01 to $0.77 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 — 4,789,753,900 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
For scale, 1970 mintage was 52% lower than in 1975 (9,956,751,442 that year) — enough to compare, not enough to change how the coin is valued today.
Philadelphia made the fewest at 1,898,315,000, against 2,891,438,900 from Denver. The mints are within the same order of magnitude, so on this date the mint mark does far less to the price than condition does.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.01 to $0.77, and the grading data that separates ordinary coins from exceptional ones has not built up.
Legends on this design — obverse: “IN GOD WE TRUST · LIBERTY”. Reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E • PLURIBUS · UNUM · ONE CENT”.
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 |
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 — Large date, low "7"
Mintage: 690,560,004.
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 3 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 4,789,753,900 and a best circulated value of $0.77, 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 $0.77 depending on condition and mint mark. It is a recent coin in everyday circulation, so condition is the only thing that moves the price.
How many 1970 pennies were made?
About 4,789,753,900 in total — Denver 2,891,438,900, Philadelphia 1,898,315,000. That is a large mintage, which is why circulated examples stay inexpensive.
Where is the mint mark on a 1970 penny?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1970 penny varieties?
Yes — 3 are catalogued for this date: Large date, low "7"; 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 $0.77, from a mintage of 4,789,753,900 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
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