A Perpwexing Qwestion

anoldgoat

Why is the 1949-S the key in a couple of the modern silver coinage sets even though they are not the lowest mintage?

My Points are:
(1) A date/mint is saved because it is the lowest mintage thus making it an easy coin to find in later years thus reducing the value, 1955-S Lincoln, 1954 Lincoln, 1955-S Roosevelt.
(2) San Francisco minted coins are usually put away, generally because they are usually the lower minted coins, thus reducing thier value in later years, see point 1.
Now the 1949-S comes up. In the Roosevelt set and the Franklin set they are the highest priced coins although they are not the lowest minted and they are from the San Francisco mint (which does not jive with the low mintage, most popular Lincoln series and the dimes of the same mint).

What up?

Please

my3cents

Excellent observation and question. I hope we get an answer or at least some thoughtful opinions.

wjd283

I think it's a "supply/demand" thing.

There probably is'nt enough of the high grade 49s's to go around,regardless of the mintage.JMO.

sliderider

It's not about mintage figures, but survival figures. It's quite possible that many of the 49s coins never got released into general circulation and were still in the vaults during times when silver was melted. Condition rarity also plays a role.

LincolnCentMan

Just an observation.... but the 1954-P cent is a key in 66RD for the shortset... $400-$1000 (PCGS) depending on how nice.

David

Artist

1949-S = 100 Anniversary of California gold rush, so maybe 49-S have some romantic appeal.

Okay, probably not.