This Post attempts to show you the difference between the 1960 Large Date and Small Date Cents in circulation (business) strikes. Photos are courtesy of coinpage.com. The reason for the different sizes of the date as per the mint: "The Mint was having trouble with the digits of the date chipping on the dies, (especially the zero), so the Mint made a new master die in mid-year." NOTE: "The last time the U.S. Mint is believed to have changed the master tools in mid-year for the Lincoln Cent BEFORE 1960 was back in 1909, when they removed the V.D.B. from the reverse!" Here's the 1960 Philadelphia Small Date (coinpage): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-3664.html Here's the Denver Mint Small Date (coinpage): http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-6398.html As you can tell by the photos it's much easier to see the difference under magnification (most obvious are the lengths of the 9s and 6s) There are four other 1960 Lincoln Cent consideratiuons to make. Consideration 1) 1960-D/D (photo courtesy of icollector.com): http://www.icollector.com/images/1158/14683/14683_0487_2_lg.jpg Considerations 2 and 3) 1960 overdates (photo and text courtesy of scvhistory.com): http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/sg070205-coins.htm Proof sets, of 1960, contain either a small or a large date Cent and even a few proof sets contain overdates (no photo). Hope you enjoyed... Clinker
Thanks for bringing back a childhood memory Clinker. My father received several small date proof sets back then. I can remember him bragging to all of the family members about this most fortunate find, and the eyes glazed over looks he received in return....not from me of course.
The image for the small date and large date have the same tag. Maybe 6403 instead of 6401 on the link?
green18: My eldest son was born in 1960. Right after his birth (August) I bought several BU small dates and through the years (as birthday presents) I've presented him with proof sets in small and large dates as well as Philly and Denver business strikes BU coins, but no overdates or double mint marks yet. Thanks for sharing... Clinker
