Collecting just semi keys

Hedger

I'm starting with Lincolns in EF with semi key dates and a few commons. I give up on buying key dates and find I enjoy a more modest collection more. Do any of you just collect the semi keys? I believe the semi key dates are showing much promise in EF grades. Or would it be worth while just to collect the semi keys without common dates.

ziggy29

Interesting. I've not heard of such a collecting strategy. How do you define a "semi-key?" Pretty much everyone agrees that the S-VDB and 1914-D are "keys" (ignoring the varieties like the '22-D No D and doubled dies). How about '09-S without VDB, or 1931-S? Some call them keys and some call them semi-keys.

I'm pretty sure I'd call all the S-mint coins from 1910-1915 semi-keys, as well as 1924-D. In EF, I suppose the early D-mint pieces (1911 to 1913) are semi-keys as well even if they might not be in G-4. And in EF, '24-D is considerably tougher than '31-S which is rarely seen below VF. And arguably, there are others you could add as semi-keys in a high grade (1915, 1922-D, 1923-S, arguably '21-S and '26-S as well.

In any event, there's no wrong way to collect as long as you enjoy what you're collecting and you don't get ripped off.

Longacre

That's pretty interesting. As stated above, how do you define semi-key?

Hedger

I would define semi key dates as ones that are priced in the sixty dollar range in the grade I'm looking for which is EF. I would omit the 09 S, 09 S VDB, 14D, 24 D and 31 S. Semi key for me would include however the 14 S, 24 S, 31 D and 33 D. The earlier teen dates S and D mints are tough to find in nice EF grades.

merz2

Hedger
As a longtime Lincoln collector,I agree a nice EF collection would be well worth it.Semi Keys are all of the 1909-1925 "D" & "S" mint marks as well as the 1930-1934 "D" & "S" mint marks IMHO.Some of these can be had in AU for the money you spoke of.

Halfsense

I once tried collecting semi keys, but frankly, I prefer 4X4s and SUVs......

Heh-heh.....

-donn-

Nickelback

I have a friend who's doing the same thing and is quite happy with that approach to collecting.

LincolnCentMan

I would define semi key dates as ones that are priced in the sixty dollar range in the grade I'm looking for which is EF. I would omit the 09 S, 09 S VDB, 14D, 24 D and 31 S. Semi key for me would include however the 14 S, 24 S, 31 D and 33 D. The earlier teen dates S and D mints are tough to find in nice EF grades.

Hedger,

Going along the lines of what you're looking to collect, I'll post a few of my veiws on the semi-keys that you mentioned. I could sit here and type for hours and hours giving you a date-by-date, but 1) I'd like to go to bed sometime soon and 2) I dont want to appear that I'm trying sway you to my favorite dates. And I certainly dont want to distort your intent of this thread.

1914-S This is a very difficult coin to locate (not to buy) in no problem, crisply struck XF45 to AU58. It is without a doubt the most difficult solid AU to get from 1910-1921. Despite the value, it's even more difficult to get than the 09-S. Even though this coin is recognized by experienced Lincoln collectors as difficult, I really see this coin as a prize to be had in your target grade.

1924-S As is true for the other S mints from 1923-1926, this coin is usually struck from deteriorated dies. Man, they just banged those cents out as long as they could. A solid fully struck AU with a little residual mint luster will definatly command a premium. The trick is finding one with an early die state on both sides. I personally prefer the 23-S in XF/AU to the 24-S in the same grade, but both are cents that experienced circulated lincoln would give a nice, "Man," too when they saw it in your collection.

1931-D This coin seems very availible in XF/AU. Even though it is a tough date in nice MS grades, I honestly feel this one is over rated at XF/AU. There are just more of them out there than there are people that are trying to build a solid XF and better collection.

1933-D Again, this one is a coin that appears to be more availible than collectors that are building a set in the XF/AU target grade. Not only that, it's the last coin before the shortset starts (1934-1958.) Most of the guys that have XF and better goals have BU and better goals from 1934-1958. It's real easy for them to justify buying a nice BU 33-D because it'll be sitting next to a nice BU 1934-P. Every collector makes their own descisions on what their goals are. But when it comes to the divison at 1933-34, they usually pick one of the following paths: No problem full-rim good and better from 1909-1933-D, XF and better from 1909-1933-D, or every coin in as nice as he/she can afford from 1909-1933-D. In scenario one, they're just looking for G and better, so they're not going to go for a XF/AU when a G-VF can be had for so much less. In scenario 2, that's where the demand would fall on the pre-1934 XF/AU's. The problem is that if they're going solid XF and better, this is a date they'll probably get in BU or better. In the third scenario, well, most will be looking for MS64-66RD for this date. This same collector thought process usually applies with most of the early thirties. So from a buy and hold standpoint, I've never really liked the early 1930's in XF/AU.

David

P.S. Although I have moved away from building a MS set, I am working on a XF and better lincoln collection right now. I call it my "withdrawal" set.