Collectors don’t need to look back more than a century to find coins worth a fortune. In fact, several coins from the 1970s hold surprising value today, offering significant returns if you can identify the right ones. These coins, despite their age, continue to fetch high prices in the collector’s market, with some going for tens of thousands of dollars.
What sets these valuable 1970s coins apart? Most of them have unique minting errors or rare features, making them stand out to collectors. Surprisingly, the highest-valued coins often come from lower denominations, such as pennies and nickels. If you’re lucky enough to find any of these coins in mint condition, you could be sitting on a small fortune.
1. 1971-S Doubled Die Obverse Penny: Worth $10,350
This coin features a classic minting error known as a “doubled die.” This occurs when the coin gets struck more than once during the minting process, leading to a more pronounced and sometimes off-centered design.
For the 1971-S penny, this error on the front (obverse) creates a sharper relief, and collectors are willing to pay a hefty price for specimens in mint condition. Recently, this doubled die penny has fetched over $10,000 at auctions.
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2. 1974-S Reverse Brockage Penny (1973-S Back): Worth $11,400
The 1974-S penny is a rare “brockage” coin, which means it has the regular design on one side, while the other side shows a mirror image of the reverse. Brockage errors happen when the die used in minting gets stuck.
This particular coin, sold for $11,400, features the front image of Abraham Lincoln and a backward image of the 1973 Lincoln design on the reverse.
3. 1979 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Over 1978 Jefferson Nickel: Worth $15,275
This error coin is a fascinating example of overstamping, where the image of Susan B. Anthony was mistakenly stamped over a 1978 Jefferson nickel. Overstamps are already extremely rare, but what makes this coin even more valuable is that it involves two coins from different years. This rarity made it worth more than $15,000 at auction.
4. 1971-S Deep Cameo Proof Penny: Worth $17,250
Proof coins are not intended for everyday use but serve as models for future coins. These coins are meticulously crafted to be the best possible examples of their design. The 1971-S penny, described as a “superb proof,” is one of the most pristine examples from this era. It recently sold for $17,250, proving that collectors are willing to pay top dollar for flawless examples of proof coins.
5. 1970-S Small Date Penny: Worth $18,400
The 1970-S small-date penny is one of the more delicate designs from the 1970s. The small-date version is distinguished by a finer, less prominent design, particularly noticeable in the number “7.” In contrast, the large-date version has a more level appearance. The small-date penny’s rarity and condition can push its value to over $18,000 at auctions.
6. 1970-S Large Date Penny: Worth $24,150
Interestingly, in some cases, the large-date version of a penny is more valuable than its small-date counterpart. The 1970-S large-date penny stands out due to a doubled die obverse, meaning the front design was struck twice. In mint condition, this coin recently fetched an impressive $24,150, making it the highest-valued coin on this list.
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Conclusion:
If you happen to have old coins lying around, it’s worth checking if any are from the 1970s. These retro coins may not seem valuable at first glance, but they could be worth a significant amount of money—especially if they have unique errors or are in near-mint condition.
Whether it’s a doubled die penny or a rare brockage coin, collectors are constantly on the lookout for these treasures. So, take a closer look at your change drawer, and you might just find a fortune hidden within your pocket!