KEY DATE Coins. Are Scarce/Rare Varieties Considered "Key Dates"?

braddick

For example, within the Lincoln series, although the scarcity or rarity of the Key Dates can be argued, it is common practice to accept the 1909-S VDB and the 1914-D as Key Dates. The semi-keys would involve the 1909-S and the 1931-S. The 1922 sort of squeezes in due to it being the only coin minted that year, but what about the 1955/55? Do you consider varieties and/or errors as "Key Dates"?

Is the 1955/55 a Key Date coin and then possibly the 1972/72 a semi-key date?

For the Liberty Head dime series, the 1916-D is the Key Date (again, the scarcity or rarity can be argued) and the 1921's semi-key dates, but is the 1942/41 a Key Date? (Followed by the 42/41-D?)

In you opinion, are Key Dates restricted to Date and not variety? Or, do you stretch the term to include the "Series Stoppers" as shown above?

MidLifeCrisis

Yes, I consider scarce and rare varieties such as the 55 DDO or the 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel to be key dates.

A key date coin is more expensive and harder to obtain than other coins in the series because of its relative rarity and/or popularity.

braddick

Good analysis MLC. I forgot to add "popularity" to the equation.

STONE

I frankly would not call varieties key dates. I feel they are in their own separate category: key varieties; unless of course the key date had a variety attached to it.

Key Varieties would be like some Morgan VAM's, say from 1878. There's dozens of VAM's for this date, and some are much more saught after than others.
But, an 1878 Morgan Dollar is by no means a key date in the series.

This is at least how I see it.

1798CentCollector

I guess it depends on how one intrepretes "key date" or considers the realm. I'd say no. There are 44 varieties (S-144 thru S-187) of collectible 1798 cents. Approximnately six varieties are consider rare. 1798 is not a "key date" as is 1799. The rare varieties are just that..... rare. I've never heard them referred to as key dates.

GritsMan

Good question!

I personally would lean against including varieties and errors as "key dates"--except to variety and error collectors, of course.

PerryHall

Depends. Is there a hole to fill in the coin album?

grip

<< <i>Good question!

I personally would lean against including varieties and errors as "key dates"--except to variety and error collectors, of course. >>




On the other hand if they included varieties they would be more in demand.

500Bay

<< <i>Depends. Is there a hole to fill in the coin album? >>



I think this is the 'key' to the question

ziggy29

Historically if it was listed in the Redbook and it was in most coin albums, it would be considered a "key" in the series. That often determined whether a particular variety was seen as "necessary" to complete a set.

These days that may be replaced by the registry.

braddick

So the vernacular, "Key Date" should possibly be changed to "Key Coin" within each series.

Batman23

<< <i>Depends. Is there a hole to fill in the coin album? >>




In the lincoln set I never considered the 22 no D Strong Reverse , the 55/55 or 72/72 a key. Just the 09 SVDB and 14D. Now that my Dansco has that hole for the 22noD I have to consider that a key. It is the only "key" to finishing my set. There are no holes for the 55/55 and 72/72, thus they are just varieties that I might one day consider buying.

Rampage

I would rather consider it is key variety for a particular date than a key date.

doh

I hear the 18/17-S Quarter being called a "key" frequently.

pmac

<< <i>Depends. Is there a hole to fill in the coin album? >>


This is exactly why the '55 DDO is so "key". Whitman put the hole in the album, and it had to be filled.

braddick

<< <i>

<< <i>Depends. Is there a hole to fill in the coin album? >>


This is exactly why the '55 DDO is so "key". Whitman put the hole in the album, and it had to be filled. >>



A motto and a creed that didn't serve me well in college.

rhedden

The 1909-S VDB is technically a variety of the 1909-S Lincoln cent, which has the designer's initials on the reverse. This is the quintessential Key Date coin in my mind, and I therefore say "yes," varieties can be Key Dates. I would also include the 1955 and 1972 double dies as key dates, due to their obvious, visually striking appearance. I would NOT include obscure die marriages of 19th century coins, or minor double dies in modern series, as "key dates", as much as I love to collect some of these things. To me, it has to be an "unaided eye" major variety that does not require a loupe to distinguish. Therefore, an 1817/4 Bust half WOULD be a Key Date, but a rare die marriage of the 1825 half, which must be looked up in the Overton reference, wouldn't qualify.

braddick

So the general rule here is there are no rules.

We can each define for ourselves what a Key Date is and then work within our own definition.

Interesting.

RyGuy

I don't feel that scarce/rare varieties should be considered key dates due to the fact that they were not what the Mint intended on producing.

Which on another note, as a collector of Lincoln cents, it annoys me that in regards to the NGC Registry, the 1922 No D is included in addition to the regular issue.

Ryan

partagas

A variety would become a key date only if it would be required to complete the standard accepted set of coins.

Example already given the 1909-s vdb and the 55/55 Lincoln cent. These must be aquirred to complete the set.

TwoSides2aCoin

I think Key Dates are the toughest holes to fill and most dream about them after finding out about $.

Scarce dates are the toughest coins to acquire and keep out of the news. These are like "endangered" species They're the ones which bring in new collectors I like that !
.
Key/Scarce varieties come in under the radar and happen to be the most fun for me, although most people could care less until they buy the book and realize how much $ they gave away by selling their "JUNK" silver at ten times face and not checking

Today, I found this "rare variety" 1964 Doubled Die Reverse listed in the Cherrypicker's Guide.
I traded a bunch of Washington quarters away the other day and can only imagine how "picked" I got

And the funny thing is...

If we don't really know what to look for, we won't spot it.



But if we get the book Like I just did ... Thanks to the prompting of many here especially Walmann, and others,

we understand why variety is the spice of life.

19Lyds

<< <i>Good question!

I personally would lean against including varieties and errors as "key dates"--except to variety and error collectors, of course. >>



My thoughts exactly.

Even though the 55/55 is a rather famous "variety/error", it should not be included with the rest of the set unless the collector intends to have a complete variety set. Of course, at that point in time, the collector would soon realize that there may "rarer", less popular varieties than the 55/55.

shorecoll

I've "completed" several sets of lincolns and never considered the 55/55 or 72/72 as essential. They're optional, like the 1894-S barber dime.

Billet7

I think there is a difference between "Key Date" and "Key Coin." A key date is the toughest DATE to get for the series, period. If you are putting a normal date set (or date and mintmark set, if be the case) this should be the most expensive and hardest coin to get. A key coin on the other hand doesn't have to be the the same thing. Lincoln wheat backs for example would have a key date of 1909-S VDB for example, but the the "Key Coin" could possibly be the 1955/55 or 1922 plain. It is a coin that wasn't intentionally included in the set, an abberation if you will.

It is a small distinction, but it all boils down to what is usually included in a "SET." Since 3 legged buffalos and 1955/55's aren't included in a standard set, they aren't "Key Dates" but "Key Varieties" or "Key Coins."

Billet7

<< <i>The 1909-S VDB is technically a variety of the 1909-S Lincoln cent, which has the designer's initials on the reverse. This is the quintessential Key Date coin in my mind, and I therefore say "yes," varieties can be Key Dates. I would also include the 1955 and 1972 double dies as key dates, due to their obvious, visually striking appearance. I would NOT include obscure die marriages of 19th century coins, or minor double dies in modern series, as "key dates", as much as I love to collect some of these things. To me, it has to be an "unaided eye" major variety that does not require a loupe to distinguish. Therefore, an 1817/4 Bust half WOULD be a Key Date, but a rare die marriage of the 1825 half, which must be looked up in the Overton reference, wouldn't qualify. >>



Actually the 1909-S would be a variety of the 1909-S VDB if you want to boil it down like that, the VDB was produced first. You also have to keep in mind that both the 1909-S VDB and the 1909-S were intentionally produced by the mint, which discounts it as an error or abberation of any kind. In my mind if it was intentionally produced (officially) then it is not a variety.

braddick

Billet, calling the 09-S a variety of the VDB is an interesting counter-point and an argument over the validity of your statement can certainly be made.

Lots to think about!

Billet7

Bump, I like this thread, lets keep it going.