Key Date Collection - Then and Now (5 Years)
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,503 ✭✭✭✭✭
Just found this in an old file. I created it five years ago. It's a list of "key date" coins I had planned to collect, with the condition I wanted them in, and the approximate price I expected to pay. I wonder how realistic it was then and how those prices compare to today. I didn't complete the collection...I didn't even start it really.
1793 Half Cent
F12 $10K
1794 Half Cent
XF40 $6K
Chain Cent
Any non-problem, no price specified
1801 Large Cent Three Errors
VF30 $6K
(fraction 1/000, one stem wreath, Iinited in legend)
1877 Indian Head Cent
MS64 BN $8.5K
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent
MS66 RB $7K
1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
MS64 RB $6K
1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent
MS66 RD $2K
(1-O-I, Class I doubled die) FS-033.3
1872 Two Cent Piece
MS64 BN $5K
1877 Three Cent Nickel
PF65 $5K
1937-D Three Legged Buffalo Nickel
MS63 $5.5K
1916-D Mercury Dime
AU58 $12K
1875-CC Twenty Cent Piece
MS64 $7K
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
AU58 $15K
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar
AU58 $9K
1893-S Morgan Dollar
XF40 $10K
1907 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle High Relief
AU58 $17K
Comments
You could probably find a decent HR Saint in a 63 holder for that price now.
Interesting list. Personally, I don't consider die varieties or errors key dates.
A key date to one collector is just a hyped-up common coin to another collector.
'89-s is the same or thereabouts
A little more nuanced than this to me. It's that a key date that isn't actually "required" to complete a set isn't part of it and cannot by definition be key. The 1955 and 1972 DD cents aren't needed for a complete date/MM set of Lincoln cents.
Both are included by tradition from inclusion in folders or albums and the Red Book. I'd consider both necessary for a complete set of errors or die varieties (however one wants to classify it) but not otherwise.
...I didn't even start it really.
it is difficult to believe a serious numismatist would make a wonderful list like that (150k?), then not really even start it?
any commentary/story?
Interesting list.
Just created a list yesterday of all the PCGS Kennedy Half Dollar varieties in Proof.
Will create a list for business strikes and SMS.
Figure 5 years to complete.
Realistic financially and cherrpickable.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Thanks for your comments.
At the time, I was building a collection of US Colonial and World Coins Which Circulated in Early America (WCWCEA). That took nearly all of my focus and money. It was a pretty high-end collection and I was proud of it.
Thinking back, I probably put this "key date" list together because I've always loved many of the coins on the list and I probably thought at the time that I would branch back out beyond Colonial and WCWCEA and I wanted to have a specific focus when I did.
Alas, all of that was overcome by events. I sold the collection and put the hobby on the way-back burner for a few years.
You had a a terrific WCWEA collection as I recall.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
ahh. ty for the memory stimulation. im pretty sure i recall you making a statement here. wasn't sure it was you as SEVERAL members have done similar things for various reasons over the past several years.
LOL - after building a wcwcea, that noble list in the op would actually be a break. not many people with such a list could make such a boast!
what a ride it must have been.
thanks for sharing
Can an AU58 make AU63 now?
You could get a 3 Legged buffalo in 64 for the same money now, I think. Depends on the quality of the coin. Easily purchase a CAC labelled coin for your listed price in 63!
Interesting list.... I have owned a couple along the way... but lost due to many life events.... I should replace them. Cheers, RickO