Here is my small and large date to compare. It looks like yours is large date. My large date is to the left and small date is to the right. See how the nine on the penny to the right's loop points to the 7 but the one to the left points the mint mark?
I am pretty sure all 3 pictures here are large dates. The last 2 are a bit small, but that 7 and 9 look like large dates to me. Look here http://lincolncentresource.com/smalldates/1970Ssmalldate.html or http://www.cointalk.com/t93080/
I already posted these before. Look at the 9s, they are different. I already posted these before and was told the one was small date. If you look at the picture I attached and zoom in, you will see that one is small date and the other large date. The one loop points to the 7 and the other to the mint mark. The difference between the two are very slight. Save the picture and blow it up. .
Also look and see the penny on the right has a weak liberty, the L has worn off. These are not the same as a 1960 small date. The difference between the 7s is only slight. If you blow up the picture you will see the left 9 loop points to the mint mark and the right points to the 7. I know that opinions on the Internet can vary greatly but I do believe the one person that pointed out the easiest way to find out if your 1970s is small or large date is look at the loop of the 9 and see where it points. If it points to the "s", large date, to the 7-small date.
Your picture is much better than the rest. You can see the obvious differences between the loop of the 9, the easiest way I think to find out the difference between a small date and large date. Of course wear on a coin can make it sometimes more difficult to tell the differences between the two cents. I should have a better picture, my penny on the right is on a slant which makes verifying that the 7 is align with the 9 but as you can see by your picture of the small date, the 7 on the small date is only slightly different than the large date. That is why I think the 9 is a better indicator. I am though having a little trouble telling what the person who started this thread's penny is. Is that a loop that curls around on the 9 or one that points at the mintmark? It looks to me like one that loops around. Are you sure that is large date? I am starting to think it might be small date.
Yes, those proof examples seem to the best way to distinguish between the too. I think the picture at the top of this thread it is difficult to tell what it is. If you could zoom in closer it would be easier. I know my pictures look the same but if you save the picture and zoom in on the 9 you can see the difference. To the naked eye they look the same. Going by your picture though, I would say large date for the top picture. After comparing your pictures to my picture zoomed in, it is easier to tell that the one to the left is large date and the one to the right is small date as stated by a member in another thread.
I have the small date and large date for my set book but don't think there is a premium on the large date.
