How many collectors have ever purchased what they thought was a small date cent, whether in a proof set, mint set, or as a stand-alone to complete their memorial cents album, only to later find that they'd been "had"? I see sellers quite often on a popular auction site passing off 1970-s large date cents as the more expensive small dates, but due to site rules, no one is allowed to warn the unsuspecting buyer that he's not going to get the coin he thinks he is bidding on. Most experienced buyers know what coins sell for; if we see an advertised coin not bringing the price, we know to look beyond what the seller is saying to what the seller is showing. Very much of the time, the goods do not match the description, as in the case of the previous example. Very often the seller states "ALL SALES FINAL", so discovering later, after money has changed hands, won't help the poor buyer's situation at all. Generally, it is the new collector to the hobby who is too trusting and sometimes gets taken advantage of. Sooner or later he finds out and then becomes an ex-collector, effectively stunting the growth of the hobby.

    So, how then do you differentiate between the two varieties? Most who attempt to do so will get a straight-edge or a sheet of notebook paper and cover the date so that the tops of the 1, 9, 7, and 0 become simultaneously visible as you slowly and evenly slide the paper or straight-edge down to reveal the numerals of the date. If the tops all peek through at the same time, you then know that you have a small date cent. I have tried this procedure, and with very unsatisfactory results. Wouldn't it be nice to know that there is a better way to discern the difference? Well, there is, and you don't need to look at the date or mint mark at all to tell one from the other. Merely by observing the obverse legend (LIBERTY) can you instantly tell the small date from the large date. The letters of "LIBERTY" are poorly struck on the small date as compared to its sister, causing the legend of the small date to look emaciated when placed next to the large date (and much less expensive) cent. Stated another way, if the letters of "LIBERTY"on either a proof or mint set cent are similar in definition (strength of strike) to the date, it is a large date cent. Since this popular variety is available in mint sets and proof sets, any mint set, proof set, or cent collector who doesn't know the difference could inadvertently cheat himself or someone else due to his lack of knowledge. Whitman's "Red Book" does not show a photographic difference in the obverse legends; however,if you can obtain a copy of "The Cherrypickers' Guide To Rare Die Varieties", fourth edition- volume one, co-authored by Bill Fivaz (Feeva) and J.T. Stanton, you will be able to see a photo and thus know what to look for in determining the difference. You can find this source on eBay, some bookstores, and some coin and hobby shops.

If, in the past, you have purchased that small date cent for a fraction of its stated value, you might want to re-examine your purchase, just to make certain that you really did get a good deal instead of  being the other way around. Hey, it wouldn't hurt to check regardless of what you paid, as it's an easy coin to get fooled on... Uh, that is, it WAS an easy coin to get fooled on, now that the "secret" is out. (All the credit to Bill and J.T.)

NOTE: I LOCATED AND PHOTOGRAPHED MY S.D. PROOF CENT AND HOPE THAT IT IS CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SEE. (PLS EXCUSE THE LINT, COURTESY OF THE MINT)