Your Opinion on what may be considered Key Dates in the Merc Series.

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 12:37AM

Do not know about the rest of you but every once in awhile I get PM's asking questions about Merc Dimes. I really hate to give advice that is just my opinion. Well I don't hate to do it but for sure I do not think a person should take just one persons advice and live with it. Any way with that said lets carry on.

There is some vast knowledge here within the Series. Take your knowledge and give some opinions that you have about Early Date Mercs. I have My opinions but some of the other Guys/Gals (Beth is Back in the Registry), I think, would like to hear your views on some of the Dates. Rariety, Strike and Overall appearance of a certain date might be some of the things you might discuss in your views of previously seen coins.

I also would like to hear some Opinions as Most if Not all of you have a Much Greater Access to coins than I do. Thanks Folks and let the Flogging of the Series begin.

BTW I will be here all day as it is about 40 degrees and Raining here. Either I can stare out the window at drab skys or read your opinions. Reading your opinions seems like much more Fun.

Ken

quattrocoins · March 8, 2003 12:48AM

A quick and easy answer, Ken, would be any of the blank spaces in my set!

Sunny, here

, and lots of Spring yard-work to do.

Don

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 12:59AM

Don sping yard work is out of the question here. A month ago things were dry and pretty nice. I was even considering putting the Insurance back on my car so it could be driven. No Way now as most things are saturated by Rain to the Max. I'm really thinking Arizona in a few years. Probably get divorced over that though. Mothers just cannot leave thier Babies even though they are in thier 20's.

No opinions for other folks ? Come on I know you have some with all of your experience. If none on Mercs heck lets hear some on Standers.

Ken

fcloud · March 8, 2003 1:03AM

Ken,

The answer maybe different for each collector.

My opinion is stricktly by dates, I don't consider the 1945FB a key because a nice 65 no band is easy to find.

Keys
1916-D
1942/1
1942/1-D
1921
1921-D
Semi Key
1926-S
1925-D
1919-D
There is a bunch more in tough dates, but IMO these are the one. Like Don many of the coins I am missing are the tough date, keys, and semi-keys.

Tony

GaryMcColley · March 8, 2003 1:07AM

I feel your pain about the weather Fairlaneman! Its about the same thing here in walla walla. Just think you get to stay in all day, I have to go ride a horse for 5 hours to set for next weekend.

Also take a look at my first registry set,
Link below if it works.

Gary

a2labmom · March 8, 2003 1:15AM

I am inclined to agree with Tony on this one.

Keys
1916-D (I have one, but want to upgrade)
1942/1 (I have one in mid grade and am happy with it)
1942/1-D (I have one in mid grade and am happy with it)
1921 (will get one eventually)
1921-D (will get one eventually)
Semi Key
1926-S (will get one eventually)
1925-D (will get one eventually)
1919-D (will get one eventually)

I am waiting on a 1929 PCGS MS 64FB that will make it's way into my set. Hope to get to add some red to the boards for next Friday.

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 1:25AM

Interesting that so far the advice I gave out this morning only included two of the dates that others consider the keys. The 25D and 26S were in my list. Of course the 19D is a tough coin in any grade but I qualified my list to FB coins, which were asked for, that were within the realm of really being affordable without winning the lottery for most concerned.

Keep some answers coming as a varied opinion could be made from the answers.

Gary its really been the pits in the Valley this week. Walla Walla is usually pretty nice but I saw where the first Low Pressure System was centered over Spokane earlier this week probably causing your weather to be the Pits also. My nephew in Hermiston had his Roof blow off a couple of days ago. BTW that is where I was raised.

Ken

DIMEMAN · March 8, 2003 1:37AM

Ken,

I am going to list the hardest to find coins nice that I encountered while putting my set together, not by price. I'm not even going to list the 16-D because while it is the key, if you have the money you could probably find a 64 or better at any major show or auction.

In order of hardest to find:

23-S
20-S
25-D
26-S
27-D
19-D
27-S
24-S
19-S
20-D
25-S
20-D
31-S
31-D
25
24
24-D

JMHO

Jon

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 1:52AM

Jon that looks a lot like the list I had this morning. Like you said maybe they cannot be considered Keys, and why not, but most, if not all of those dates are Tough to find like you would want them to look.

You know I forgot the 20D and 20S because they were two of the first dates I found for some reason. Maybe this, finding certain dates first, will influence what a person says.

More Folks as its still Raining and Cold and Gray and Miserable and Just the Pits in Oregon today.

Ken

remumc · March 8, 2003 2:37AM

Ken,

To Jon's list I would add the 28-D, 18-D, and 18-S. I'm to the point that everything I need that I can afford, I can't find, and the dimes I can find, I can't afford.

Regards,

Wayne

DeepCoin · March 8, 2003 3:44AM

Ken,

While I am focused on the No Bands Mercs, I would tend to agree with your list. The one thing that makes it all conditional is what grade are you are you looing for. The 1920-S can be very elusive at times. I also agree that if you wallet is fat enough you can buy a 16-D at pretty much any Unc grade. The tough 16-D is the VF / XF.

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 4:20AM

Rick I believe your NB endeavor is even more formidable than a person who is looking for FB coins. For some reason the NB population is very small with no reason to really back up why this is so. I mean heck just not everyone was throwing MS64/65/66 NB Mercs in the Junk Box were they? If they were I want to find one of those Junk Boxes.

Ken

python1 · March 8, 2003 5:06AM

Ken,
although I am having a real tough time finding that 26S and any grade from XF - 65fb, the toughest up to that point has been the 39sFB65, and the 31sFB65. It took me longer to find the 39s than any other coin, so far, now it looks like it may take long to get the 26s. I am even buying the straglers off the internet, only to send them back with much disappointment. (if I only had a dime..........)

TAP444 · March 8, 2003 6:12AM

Well right now the keys are a nice 27 d&s in fb
then the 16-d ( but those can be bought pretty easy) with enough money
Tim
but all the early date mint marked dimes are hard

darktone · March 8, 2003 6:36AM

Don't forget about the 1945 in full bands. mike

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 6:41AM

Ah Ha .

A couple more things have been thrown into the Equation of just what might be a Key Date to a person. Dennis collects 65FB White Coins and no higher so this throws out any of the Higher Graded dimes and limits his selection to 65FB White Coins. Makes his pickings real slim for the dates he purchases. Tim on the other hand will probably take any grade FB coin but,and this is a big but, the coin must have the Look he likes. Probably his look has rejected many coins already. By saying any for Tim what I mean is White or Toned. Dogs are surely not considered.

With the small populations that are shown for most of the dates mentioned here it appears that Most if not all that have been mentioned are in the eyes of the respondents Key Dates. Most are in agreement that the Traditional Key Date 16D can be had at any time for a Price. I believe this is True also with two of the other Traditional Keys the 21P and the 21D. The only Traditional Key that is Really Tough is the 26S. Right or Wrong ?

Need a few more of the Folks to jump in here. Still Gray and Ugly here so the fingers are just itching to stay on this Key Date and Key Board.

Ken

a2labmom · March 8, 2003 6:44AM

Is it hard to find a 45FB?

Cocoinut · March 8, 2003 6:54AM

Looking at the Mercs from a grade standpoint, and giving no special consideration to FB coins, the toughest dates in MS64 or better are:

1942/41-P 41 coins
1942/41-D 43 coins

no surprises there, but now it gets more interesting:

1920-S 116 coins
1925-D 119 coins
1919-D 121 coins
1927-D 121 coins
1919-S 122 coins
1927-S 125 coins
1926-S 137 coins
1917-D 140 coins
1924-S 143 coins

The dates usually considered to be the keys are further down the list. This may be due to the fact that they are high priced, and more likely to be cracked out and resubmitted. The actual numbers are probably well below those in the population report:

1921-P 162 coins
1916-D 164 coins
1921-D 180 coins

I would have replied to this thread sooner, but the weather here is beautiful today - temperatures in the 60's and sunny.

Actually, we desperately need precipitation of any kind, and would gladly trade a few days of sunshine for a good soaking rain.

Jim

python1 · March 8, 2003 7:31AM

Ken,
you put that so well....thanks.

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 7:38AM

Jim it has been a contention of mine that not only the Key Dates have been cracked and reslabbed to some extent but I believe just about every Merc on your list has had this done also. When the coin takes the big jump in the price it is a canidate for the Crack Out game or the submit to another service game.

Thanks for the Numbers. I was just too lazy to go grab them again. Really quite impressive that less than 200 coins are available to collectors in 64 and higher for the dates you gave. The PCGS comment for the Merc Series in thier grading book is that this series is really "Ouite Easy to Finish". That almost quote has always blown me away. I've seen it other places also. Obviously the person that wrote the quote has never attempted to collect these Easy Coins.

Especially with the limitations that some here put on the examples they will actually purchase.

Still Gray and Raining (Lightly) keep the comments coming folks.

Ken

fcloud · March 8, 2003 7:48AM

Beth,

I didn't see an answer to your question.

Yes. 1945 Full Band Coins are tough, and would be considered a rare coin. Many people like myself are happy with the no band version at a fraction of the cost.

In the December grey sheet the the coin in MS64FB is bid $1800 sell $1900.

Here are some PCGS prices
MS66 $ 66 (no band for comparision)
MS60FB $325
MS63FB $950
MS64FB $2750
MS65FB $9000
MS66FB $20000
MS67FB $30000

izzy452 · March 8, 2003 7:59AM

Wow, there seems to be more Keys in the mercury set than I would have thought. I was thinking the 16D, 21 and the 21D were the only key dates, I'm not sure if the 45FB is a key. Would the points(weights) in the registry help to determine which are the keys?

Walt

fcloud · March 8, 2003 8:22AM

Walt,

There is a FIVE POINT bonus for full bands on the 1945. Most every other coin has a two point bonus.

Coin Weight FB Bonus
1916 2 2
1916-D 10 2
1916-S 4 2
1917 3 2
1917-D 7 2
1917-S 5 2
1918 5 2
1918-D 10 3
1918-S 7 3
1919 4 2
1919-D 10 3
1919-S 9 3
1920 4 2
1920-D 6 2
1920-S 8 2
1921 6 2
1921-D 6 2
1923 3 2
1923-S 7 2
1924 4 2
1924-D 5 2
1924-S 9 2
1925 5 2
1925-D 6 2
1925-S 6 2
1926 4 2
1926-D 6 2
1926-S 7 2
1927 4 2
1927-D 8 2
1927-S 7 2
1928 4 2
1928-D 6 2
1928-S 6 2
1929 3 2
1929-D 3 2
1929-S 4 2
1930 4 2
1930-S 4 2
1931 5 2
1931-D 4 2
1931-S 6 2
1934 3 2
1934-D 4 2
1935 2 2
1935-D 4 2
1935-S 4 2
1936 2 2
1936-D 3 2
1936-S 3 2
1937 2 2
1937-D 3 2
1937-S 3 2
1938 2 2
1938-D 2 2
1938-S 3 2
1939 2 3
1939-D 1 2
1939-S 4 3
1940 2 2
1940-D 2 2
1940-S 2 2
1941 1 2
1941-D 1 2
1941-S 1 2
1942 1 2
1942, 2 over 1 10 3
1942-D 1 2
1942-D, 2 over 1 10 2
1942-S 3 2
1943 1 2
1943-D 1 2
1943-S 2 2
1944 2 2
1944-D 1 2
1944-S 1 2
1945 1 5
1945-D 1 2
1945-S 2 2
1945-S, Micro S 4 3

washvarieties · March 8, 2003 8:41AM

any dime is to small

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 8:49AM

So maybe we can skip to a FB designation question. I see a couple in the chart that get a premium over other dates. Are these warranted ? I guess the Really good example would be the 39P with a population of a Ka Zillion FB coins compared to some of the other dates. Again another example could be the 45P which is a Traditional Date that is known to be hard in FB. Actually though why should the 45P get 5 points when the 19S, 27D and 27S do not ? As always I'm just curious.

Have not looked at the Pops lately on any coin but I believe the last time I did the 45P had higher FB population than the others I mentioned.

BTW does anyone think a 19S in 66FB will ever be made ? I suppose Grade Flation may take care of this.

Your right its Gray but the Rain has stopped. I might go wash the car.

Ken

izzy452 · March 8, 2003 10:52AM

Well it looks to me that the 45P is not a key date, since its weight is only one. The 16D, 18D and the 19D have a weight of 10 which would lead me to beleive that the higher weighted coins are the keys regardless if they are FB or not.

My head hurts.

Walt

Fairlaneman · March 8, 2003 11:18AM

My Finger Tips Hurt.

But Damn this was Enjoyable today. Time to watch a Movie.

Take care Folks.

ken

Joshua · March 8, 2003 11:34AM

As to high grade mercuries - 65FB and up these have been the hardest to acquire:
19-D
18-D
25-D All the 25's are extremely difficult to find with a good strike and
25-S any eye appeal.
23-S
26-S
19-S
24-S
20-S
17-D
27-D, 27-S
18-S (pop report is screwy)
45-P
The 16-D, 21-P and 21-D are not too difficult to find for a price.
The early P-mints that are difficult are the 25,19, 17, 20, 24
Of the latter dates 35-D and 39-S are extremely tough.
The overdates aren't real hard just expensive.

Joshua

Cocoinut · March 8, 2003 12:33PM

Here are the pops in 65 or better. I downloaded them into a spreadsheet yesterday. Some simple subtotalling and sorting produced some interesting results. It seems that there are many more condition rarities in the Non-FB coins. So, as was mentioned earlier in this thread, a Non-FB set is a far greater challenge to assemble. In fact, there are 2 dates that don't exist in 65 or better in Non-FB condition!

Starting with NON-FB:

21-P 0 coins!
25-D 0 coins!
42/41-D 1 coin
24-D 5 coins
42/41-P 6
20-S 7
16-D 8
18-P 8
26-D 8
17-D 10
28-D 10
17-P 10
20-P 11
23-S 13
19-P 14
25-P 14
26-P 14
18-D 15
25-S 16
27-S 16
21-D 17
24-S 17
26-S 18

Some pretty scarce coins there, huh?

Now, look at the FB coins, and current 65FB bid prices:

42/41-P 14 coins $27,500
19-D 15 $27,500
24-S 15 $10,250
18-D 17 $25,500
19-S 19 $9,750
27-D 20 $6,500
20-S 22 $6,250
23-S 24 $5,300
42/41-D 24 $14,500
27-S 27 $5,800
17-D 31 $4,500
26-S 34 $5,100
18-S 38 $5,000
45-P 44 Current Greysheet bid is now $2700 in 64FB, $6200 in 65FB
16-D 45 $29,000
25-D 46 $2,650
20-D 50 $3,000

Looks to me like the '18-D. '42/41-D, and '16-D are grossly overvalued, and the '45-P is higher than it deserves to be. But again, the '16-D in particular is probably cracked out and resubmitted more often than the other dates, so the true pop is anyone's guess.

Jim

Your Opinion on what may be considered Key Dates in the Merc Series.

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