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What are the Top 10 affordable Keys that have been perennial favorites for decades?

llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
Wide audience... readily accessible... isn't new to the list... hasn't fallen off the list... the ones you remember from your childhood... the "I'm going to own one of those when I grow up!" coins

I found this list on Wikipedia image It's interesting to note that none are varieties. I've priced them all as AU58s. (Box of 20)

1877 Indian Head Cent $4,000
1909-S Indian Head Cent $950
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent $1,650
1909-S Lincoln Cent $330
1914-D Lincoln Cent $2,250
1885 Liberty Nickel $2,650
1886 Liberty Nickel $1,250
1912-S Liberty Nickel $1,700
1913-S Type II Buffalo Nickel $750
1916-D Mercury Dime $11,000
1921-D Mercury Dime $1,200
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter $16,500
1932-D Washington Quarter $900
1932-S Washington Quarter $420
1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar $1,500
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar $7,500
1893-S Morgan Dollar $52,500
1895 Morgan Dollar $42,000 (proof only)
1921 Peace Dollar $210
1928 Peace Dollar $525

If you get rid of all the ones above $5,000. (Box of 16)

1877 Indian Head Cent $4,000
1909-S Indian Head Cent $950
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent $1,650
1909-S Lincoln Cent $330
1914-D Lincoln Cent $2,250
1885 Liberty Nickel $2,650
1886 Liberty Nickel $1,250
1912-S Liberty Nickel $1,700
1913-S Type II Buffalo Nickel $750
1921-D Mercury Dime $1,200
1932-D Washington Quarter $900
1932-S Washington Quarter $420
1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar $1,500
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar $7,500
1921 Peace Dollar $210
1928 Peace Dollar $525

If you select the Top 10 under $5,000. (Box of 10) image

1877 Indian Head Cent $4,000
1909-S Indian Head Cent $950
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent $1,650
1914-D Lincoln Cent $2,250
1885 Liberty Nickel $2,650
1886 Liberty Nickel $1,250
1912-S Liberty Nickel $1,700
1921-D Mercury Dime $1,200
1916-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar $1,500
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar $7,500
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Comments

  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,103 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Wide audience... readily accessible... isn't new to the list... hasn't fallen off the list...

    1856 FEC
    1877 IHC
    1909-S VDB
    1937-D 3 Legged
    1916-D Mercury
    1932-D Washington >>



    Affordable is relative.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275 ✭
    I'll add my two pics

    1916 SLQ
    1893-S Morgan
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Wide audience... readily accessible... isn't new to the list... hasn't fallen off the list...

    1856 FEC
    1877 IHC
    1909-S VDB
    1937-D 3 Legged
    1916-D Mercury
    1932-D Washington >>



    Affordable is relative. >>



    Let's say $1,000 - $10,000
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  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,103 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The two that stand out for me, are the 09 S VDB and 16 D Merc. These two are crossover coins, meaning that many non coin collectors even know about them.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,148 ✭✭✭✭
    Yea I think affordable is completely relative.....

    Saying $1000 and under is a good start.

    1921 & 1928 Peace Dollars? Probably not favorite enough.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • secondrepublicsecondrepublic Posts: 2,619 ✭✭✭
    I'd agree on the 1921 Peace as one of those "when I grow up" coins.....
    "Men who had never shown any ability to make or increase fortunes for themselves abounded in brilliant plans for creating and increasing wealth for the country at large." Fiat Money Inflation in France, Andrew Dickson White (1912)
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>I'd agree on the 1921 Peace as one of those "when I grow up" coins..... >>



    It's a $170 coin in XF40...
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  • scotty1419scotty1419 Posts: 933 ✭✭✭
    I add the 34-s Peace image

    I feel it's much more significant than a '21.
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    Chain cent in G6.
    Bronze Libertas in XF or slightly impaired.
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>Bronze Libertas in XF or slightly impaired. >>



    Our childhood dreams were different... image
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  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>I add the 34-s Peace image

    I feel it's much more significant than a '21. >>



    I just looked at the Peace Dollar price guide... they're all very affordable through MS-64. No wonder none of them stick out in my mind from my childhood!
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  • secondrepublicsecondrepublic Posts: 2,619 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I'd agree on the 1921 Peace as one of those "when I grow up" coins..... >>



    It's a $170 coin in XF40... >>



    As a kid I saved up and bought an AU back in the 1980s for around $50. That was a TON of money to me back then. Probably about half my net worth at the time.
    "Men who had never shown any ability to make or increase fortunes for themselves abounded in brilliant plans for creating and increasing wealth for the country at large." Fiat Money Inflation in France, Andrew Dickson White (1912)
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>I'd agree on the 1921 Peace as one of those "when I grow up" coins..... >>



    It's a $170 coin in XF40... >>



    As a kid I saved up and bought an AU back in the 1980s for around $50. That was a TON of money to me back then. Probably about half my net worth at the time. >>



    It's still about half my net now! image
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  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That 1934-S Peace in AU58 and all three of the 1921 Walkers in XF are on my want list at this time.
    I am also looking for a 1916-S Walker in AU when the one that looks right comes along.
    The Morgan’s in key date will probably be left open as they are around but seem to be becoming targets for the counterfeiters even in certified slabs. Might look at them at the few shows we have up here but then the price will probably not be right.
    image
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • LeeBoneLeeBone Posts: 4,595 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #1 since I was a kid (5-6 yrs old) was "someday I wanna own an 09-S VDB".
    I think most kids started collecting pennies, and isn`t that the Holy Grail for your Blue Whitman Folders?
    There wasn`t a space for the 55 DDO so it had to be the 09-S VDB.
    Edited to add I have both now image
  • speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
    Mine personally were the 1815 bust half and 1885, 1886, and 1912-S liberty nickels.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>Mine personally were the 1815 bust half and 1885, 1886, and 1912-S liberty nickels. >>



    Aren't you still a kid? image
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  • speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Mine personally were the 1815 bust half and 1885, 1886, and 1912-S liberty nickels. >>



    Aren't you still a kid? image >>



    Just turned 21! image

    But the past tense meant more that I now have them... image

    (After those it turned to unaffordable... haha)
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Mine personally were the 1815 bust half and 1885, 1886, and 1912-S liberty nickels. >>



    Aren't you still a kid? image >>



    Just turned 21! image

    But the past tense meant more that I now have them... image

    (After those it turned to unaffordable... haha) >>



    C'mon... who can't afford an 1870-S dollar? image
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  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The questions are how many decades are you willing to go back, and how low can the grades go?

    If you go back to the mid 1950s, using the Red Book numbers, all of the coins for which I have paid 5 figure numbers only sold for from a few to several hundred dollars. In fact going by the 1955 Red Book, the 1804 silver dollar was listed at over $10 grand, and that was an auction price. The 1822 five dollar gold piece was quoted a $15,000, and the 1913 Liberty nickel was only $6,500. Of course one would have needed to have found a willing seller at those prices, and that might not have been possible.

    At any rate here's a list of classic "affordable" key dates that many collector might find interesting"

    1. 1877 Indian cent
    2. 1909-S Indian cent
    3. 1909-S-VDB Lincoln cent
    4. 1914-D Lincoln cent
    5. 1937-D 3 legged Buffalo
    6. 1916-D Mercury dime
    7. 1942 over 1 dime
    8. 1916 Standing Liberty quarter
    9. 1889-CC Morgan Dollar
    10. 1893-S Morgan Dollar
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bill I would agree with your list but would substitute the 55 DDo in place of the 41/42 merc

    though it is fair since the small silver does need a rep there.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The big trouble I had with the list was there were too many cents and not enough of the other denominations, other than the 1916-D Mercury dime, that immediately flashed into my mind. The trouble with the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter is that the coin is almost too scarce to have on the list. If you go to most any medium or even small show, you will see most of the coins on the list all be it in low grade. The 1916 Standing Lib quarter does not show up that often because of the low mintage and the number dateless pieces that have probably gone to the melting pot over the years.

    Yes the 1955 doubled die is a cool coin. I've owned one for years.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    oh geez, maybe the 32D? it is a Key to the Washintons....
  • llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭


    << <i>oh geez, maybe the 32D? it is a Key to the Washintons.... >>



    It's key, but it's cheap.
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  • IHC08IHC08 Posts: 100
    No love for the 27-S SLQ?
  • drei3reedrei3ree Posts: 3,430 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The two that stand out for me, are the 09 S VDB and 16 D Merc. These two are crossover coins, meaning that many non coin collectors even know about them. >>



    I'm not so sure...3 legged Buffalo nickel might be the closest thing to a crossover. Although I'm not sure anyone under 40, non-numismatist, would know about them???
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
    re. the 32D quarter, seems to fit the OPs parameters exactly!


    (cheap unless its MS)
  • hammered54hammered54 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭


    << <i>No love for the 27-S SLQ? >>



    I thought of that one also...or the 31S cent.
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  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,773 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>No love for the 27-S SLQ? >>



    There are not a lot of Standing Liberty quarter collectors, at least not beyond the cult of Full Head enthusiasts. As a result the key dates in that series don’t get a lot of press. At any rate the 1927-S is more of a condition rarity piece.



    << <i>I'm not so sure...3 legged Buffalo nickel might be the closest thing to a crossover. Although I'm not sure anyone under 40, non-numismatist, would know about them??? >>



    The three legged buffalo has gotten to be very famous, and when I was dealer it was very easy sell them. It reached the point where I thought that the coin in AU and low end Mint State (to MS-63) was over promoted and over priced relative to its rarity.



    << <i>re. the 32D quarter, seems to fit the OPs parameters exactly! >>



    Yes, the 1932-D and S Washington quarters have long been the "famous" key dates in the series, but Washington quarters spent a lot of time snoozing image before the State Quarter series came along. Now that the State Quarters are finished it seems like it's back to the crib for the Washington quarter again.



    << <i> thought of that one also...or the 31S cent. >>



    It seemed like the 1931-S cent got some press years ago, but then people figured out that it was not all that rare, you could buy a nice red Unc. for well under $200. Besides that, there are already two or three Lincoln cents on the list (1909-S-VDB, 1914-D and 1955 DDO) that we need to save room among the "famous 10" for something other than Lincoln cents.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • NewParadigmNewParadigm Posts: 1,322
    The 16-D Merc. is a must.

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