If you are interested in finding the 1960/1960-D Small and Large date, you should look at the photos in this post and also consult PCGS’s Jaime Hernandez historical description about these varieties on the PCGS website.
First, let’s look at diagnostics so that you can tell the difference between small and large date, beginning with the 1960 varieties.
Hernandez writes that the 1960 the Mint created excitement when it produced these coins. “Even people who didn’t collect coins heard about the two varieties and began looking for the scarcer small date variety. Pretty soon, the small date variety coins were commanding strong premiums over the large date varieties.”
Hernandez notes that the news media promoted collecting these varieties with some hobbyists selling $50 bags of the small date for $10,000, or about $2 for each cent.
They are worth more than that now. Here are the latest values from CoinFacts:
Here are values for 1960 Small Date, Brown:
Here are values for the 1960-D Small Date, Brown:
Do not believe the hype about these coins on social media. Here’s one about a million dollar coins:
Now for the diagnostics:
The 1960 Small Date variety will have a smaller 0 digit and be oval in shape in the inside of the 0. The top of the 9 digit is lower and almost flush with the 1 digit as opposed to being larger and higher like on the large date variety.
Hernandez also writes this about condition and chances of roll hunting or finding the coin in pocket change:
MS60 – MS63: Not scarce. Can still be found in pocket change and rolls.
MS64: Somewhat scarce. Difficult to locate but can be found in rolls or purchased.
MS65: Somewhat scarce. Hard to find in rolls but can be purchased online.
MS66: rare. Extremely difficult to find in rolls as these have been largely looked through already.
MS67: Extremely rare. Fewer than a few dozen in this condition.
Here are the diagnostics for the 1960-D varieties:
As Hernandez also notes, these varieties also can be found in proof sets. He writes, “The 1960 Large over Small Date Proof Lincoln Cent is a fairly popular variety. It’s fairly easy to see the overlapping of the Large and Small Date on all four digits of the date. Although there are hundreds of examples or more that have been found, the variety still commands a significant premium. Therefore, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for it.”
Here are proof cent varieties at auction, with the San Francisco mint mark, “S,” again from PCGS Coinfacts:
In sum, it is perfectly fine to search for the Small Date varieties, but be realistic and now the various colors of the Lincoln cent: Brown, Red-Brown, Red. You can find these in my illustrated coin glossary.
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