If you grew up in the 1970s, or your parents did, there’s a good chance there’s a coffee can or old jar of coins sitting in a closet somewhere. Most of those pennies, dimes, and dollars are just what they look like: small change.
But a handful of 1970s coins turned out to be serious money. A missing mint mark, a doubled design, or an example that somehow survived in perfect condition can push a coin from face value to hundreds, thousands, or even six figures.
Below are a range of 1970s coins that have actually sold for way more than face value. In almost every case, the big money is for graded, authenticated examples in top condition, so don’t quit your day job over a scratched-up pocket piece.
Table of contents
- 1970-S “Small Date” Lincoln cent (regular strike)
- 1970 “No-S” proof Roosevelt dime
- 1971 “No-S” proof Jefferson nickel
- 1972 doubled-die Lincoln cent (FS-101)
- 1970-D Kennedy half dollar (40% silver key date)
- 1971-D Kennedy half struck on a silver planchet (major error)
- 1972 Type 2 Eisenhower dollar
- 1973-S silver Eisenhower dollar in PR70 Deep Cameo
- 1975 “No-S” proof Roosevelt dime
- 1976-S silver Bicentennial quarter in top grade
- 1976-S silver Bicentennial Eisenhower dollar (proof)
- 1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar, Wide Rim (“Near Date”)
- 1979-S Susan B. Anthony dollar, Type 2 proof (“Clear S”)
- Strategies for making money outside of a traditional job:
1970-S “Small Date” Lincoln cent (regular strike)
Most 1970-S pennies are “large date,” but a smaller, tighter-looking date was also used on some dies. On the small-date version, the top of the “7” lines up with the “0,” and the “LIBERTY” looks a little weaker. It’s a subtle difference, but collectors pay up for it, especially in bright red, uncirculated condition.
Certified, top-grade examples are where the real money is. One 1970-S small-date cent graded MS67 red sold for about $2,400 at auction in 2008. Lower grades are worth less, but still much more than a single cent.
If you think you have one, compare the date to a known large-date example and look closely at LIBERTY. Anything that looks promising should be checked under magnification, and serious money only comes once it’s authenticated and graded by a major coin service.
1970 “No-S” proof Roosevelt dime
Proof dimes from 1970 were made in San Francisco and should carry an “S” mint mark. A tiny number were struck with no mint mark at all, just a blank space above the date, which turned them into one of the key modern U.S. rarities.
Only a few hundred are believed to exist, all pulled from special proof sets. High-grade pieces have brought strong money. One 1970 No-S proof dime graded PR68 Ultra Cameo sold for about $1,290 at auction. Other examples in similar grades routinely sell for over $1,000.
If you have original 1970 proof sets, it’s worth checking the dime with a magnifying glass. A missing “S” mint mark is a huge deal, and definitely not something to clean or handle with bare fingers.
1971 “No-S” proof Jefferson nickel
The only “No-S” Jefferson nickel ever made is from 1971, again from San Francisco proof sets. A small number left the Mint without the “S” mint mark, and collectors have been hunting them for decades.
Because the mintage is so tiny, nice examples bring big money. One 1971 No-S Jefferson nickel graded PR69 Deep Cameo sold for around $7,426 at auction, even though its face value is just five cents Less-perfect examples still tend to sell for hundreds to a couple thousand dollars.
If you’ve got a 1971 proof set, check the nickel carefully. A missing “S” means you’re not holding an ordinary coin anymore, you’re holding a rare error that needs professional grading.
1972 doubled-die Lincoln cent (FS-101)
Most 1972 pennies are common, but one famous variety was struck from a doubled die. On these, the date and the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “LIBERTY” show strong, spread-out doubling you can see with the naked eye.
Even circulated examples can bring more than pocket change. The crazy money is in high-grade, full red coins. A 1972 doubled-die cent graded MS65 red has sold for just over $600 on eBay through a major auction price service. Even MS63–MS64 examples can be worth over $100.
If you see a 1972 penny with “blurry” or doubled letters on the front, don’t ignore it. Put it in a holder, compare it carefully to online photos of the FS-101 variety, and consider getting an expert opinion before you spend it.
1970-D Kennedy half dollar (40% silver key date)
Starting in 1965, Kennedy halves moved from 90% silver to a 40% silver “sandwich” composition. The last of those circulating silver halves was the 1970-D, and it was never released into general circulation. It came only in Mint sets, which makes it a key date for the series.
Because it’s 40% silver, even a circulated example has melt value above 50 cents. In high grade, it’s much more. One 1970-D Kennedy half graded MS66 sold for about $210 at auction in 2020. A top-pop MS67 example has fetched around $7,500 according to auction-price records.
If your family kept 1970 Mint sets sealed, there could be a nice little silver bonus inside. Just remember: breaking them out and handling coins can hurt value if you don’t know what you’re doing.
1971-D Kennedy half struck on a silver planchet (major error)
By 1971, regular Kennedy halves were supposed to be copper-nickel, no more silver. But a few 1971-D halves were accidentally struck on leftover 40% silver planchets from 1970, creating a small group of very valuable error coins.
These errors are heavier and ring differently than normal clad coins. One famous 1971-D error half graded MS61 sold for about $13,000 on eBay in 2018, according to major auction-price records
Most 1971-D halves are just pocket change, so don’t get your hopes up too fast. But if you have a 1971-D that seems heavier, looks more silvery on the edge, or tests differently for metal, a coin dealer or grading service can help you figure out whether it’s one of these rare mistakes.
1972 Type 2 Eisenhower dollar
Eisenhower dollars from 1972 come with three different reverse designs. The Type 2 version, used only on certain Philadelphia-minted coins, shows the earth with a flatter, more detailed outline of Florida and the Caribbean. It’s much scarcer than the common Type 1 and Type 3 reverses.
In average condition, a Type 2 might be worth $100 or so. In top mint state grades, prices climb quickly. A 1972 Type 2 Ike graded MS65 sold for $1,680 in a Stack’s Bowers sale in 2022.
If you have 1972 dollars, check the globe on the back against online comparison images. If it matches the scarcer Type 2 design, it’s worth treating that coin a lot more carefully than regular change.
1973-S silver Eisenhower dollar in PR70 Deep Cameo
In the early 1970s, the Mint sold special 40% silver Eisenhower dollars directly to collectors. The 1973-S silver proof is popular on its own, but the absolute top-grade coins, proof 70 with deep, frosty devices and black-mirror fields, are where the big premiums show up.
One 1973-S silver Ike graded PR70 Deep Cameo sold for about $930 at auction, far above its $1 face value and silver melt content. Even PR69 Deep Cameo coins often sell for solid three-figure prices.
If your family ordered silver Ikes from the Mint in the ’70s and never took them out of the original holders, it’s worth checking them. Coins that look flawless under magnification might justify the cost of professional grading.
1975 “No-S” proof Roosevelt dime
This is one of the most valuable modern U.S. coins, period. In 1975, the San Francisco Mint made millions of proof sets with an “S” on the dime. Two sets, somehow, were sent out with dimes that had no mint mark at all. Only two No-S 1975 proof dimes are confirmed today.
Because there are only two, prices have been wild. One example graded PR68 sold for $456,000 in 2019. In 2024, the other known coin brought about $506,250 in a GreatCollections sale.
Realistically, you probably don’t have one, both known examples are accounted for. But this coin is why people still check their proof dimes for missing mint marks. If another one ever turned up, it would almost certainly be worth six figures.
1976-S silver Bicentennial quarter in top grade
For the U.S. Bicentennial, the Mint issued special quarters dated 1776-1976, including 40% silver versions sold in collector sets. Most are common and trade close to silver value. But a few nearly perfect examples have sold for serious money.
One 1976-S silver Bicentennial quarter graded PR70 Deep Cameo brought $2,760 at auction in 2007. Even more dramatic, a 1976-S silver Bicentennial quarter graded MS69, an almost unheard-of grade for a business-strike coin, has sold for $19,200 in a Heritage auction.
If you see a 1776-1976 quarter with an “S” mint mark, it might be silver. Weighing the coin or checking the edge color helps. Only the absolutely perfect ones get into the thousands, but even lower-grade silver quarters are worth more than 25 cents because of their metal.
1976-S silver Bicentennial Eisenhower dollar (proof)
Bicentennial Ike dollars also came in 40% silver proof sets. These big, shiny coins show the Liberty Bell over the moon on the back and were a popular keepsake. Most are worth a bit over silver value, but top-graded proofs bring much more.
A 1976-S silver Ike in PR70 Deep Cameo has sold for several thousand dollars at auction; one widely cited sale hit about $7,475, far beyond the $1 face value. Even PR69 Deep Cameo pieces can sell for solid three-figure prices.
If you have original Bicentennial silver proof sets, check the Ike for cloudy spots or marks. A coin that still looks deep-mirror perfect decades later may be worth grading, especially if recent auction prices for similar coins are strong.
1979-P Susan B. Anthony dollar, Wide Rim (“Near Date”)
When the Susan B. Anthony dollar debuted in 1979, the Philadelphia Mint used two different rim styles. The “wide rim” (also called “near date”) has a thicker border and the date closer to the edge. It’s scarcer than the common narrow-rim version.
Circulated wide-rim coins might sell for $20–$30. High-grade certified pieces go for more. Auction records show a wide-rim 1979-P dollar graded MS67+ selling for about $6,995 on eBay in 2021. More typical MS65–MS66 examples often sell in the $60–$150 range based on recent eBay sales.
Finding one is as simple as comparing the date spacing and rim thickness against online images. If your 1979-P SBA dollar has a chunky rim and the date tucked in close, set it aside, it’s likely worth more than a dollar.
1979-S Susan B. Anthony dollar, Type 2 proof (“Clear S”)
Proof Susan B. Anthony dollars from 1979 were struck at San Francisco, and the “S” mint mark itself comes in two styles. The Type 1 mint mark is blobby; the Type 2 is sharply defined. Type 2 proofs are much scarcer and command a premium.
Nice Type 2 proofs in PR69 or PR70 can sell for strong money. Auction-price records show a 1979-S Type 2 proof dollar graded PR70 Deep Cameo bringing around $1,600 at auction. Even PR69 Deep Cameo coins often sell for $100–$300 depending on the market.
If you have 1979 proof sets, check the dollar’s mint mark with magnification. A crisp, clear “S” could mean you’ve got the scarcer Type 2, which is worth getting appraised if it looks flawless otherwise.
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Byline: Katy Willis
