Which date in numismatic history is most significant to you?

keyman64

Some important coins were first struck in 1787, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1796...when thinking of a nice early coin to buy when you are poor(relative to the high rollers around here) and can't buy them all, which year would you go after for a first year, which coin would it be and why?

This is something I have spent some time thinking about and figured it might make a good discussion.

savoyspecial

"1652" (i know it was a frozen antedate, but still) -- this is when we first made an effort at our own coinage, free from the crown

JohnHarper

At one time I was trying to collect all the varieties of the cents of 1793. They were expensive then and have gotten even more expensive by now.

I think the Fugio Cents can be found at a lower price than a similar 1793 cent. A single piece is a great representation of the history of early coinage. Varieties can also be added to expand that collection.

Since my current project involves the coinage of 1792, I would love to own a few of those. So far, my pockets are not deep enough to buy even a single example. But then, I am having fun buying cheap copies and replicas.

OnlyGoldIsMoney

Two dates I find interesting if not significant

1907-1908 Long lived 19th century gold coin designs scrapped

1921 The last time classic 19th century denticles appeared on a US circulating coin

MsMorrisine

I guess 1933 and 1965, the dates real money stopped being made.

mr1931S

1933

Boosibri

1833/1834 gold & silver rebalancing

OldEastside

<< <i>I guess 1933 and 1965, the dates real money stopped being made. >>



Ya I agree on that but would add 1942 and 1943 for composition changes
even though temporary

Steve

edited to add 1982

Coinosaurus

I would have to say 1856........the introduction of the small cent has been the most impactful event for U.S. collectors.....

Sonorandesertrat

<< <i>I would have to say 1856........the introduction of the small cent has been the most impactful event for U.S. collectors..... >>



I agree, but count this as 1857.

Zoins

I like the history behind the 1776 Continental Dollar and how hard it was to raise funds and support the military in the early years.

I also like 1848 as the date of the 1848 CAL Gold commem which helped spur the migration westward in the US. It's a great reminder of the amount of time it took for news to travel across the country back then.

MrHalfDime

I would be inclined to say July 1792, the date when the 1792 half dismes were struck, although I suppose April 2, 1792, the date of the Congressional Act authorizing the establishment of the Mint, and the striking of all United States coins, including the half disme, is equally important.

RYK

when thinking of a nice early coin to buy when you are poor(relative to the high rollers around here) and can't buy them all, which year would you go after for a first year, which coin would it be and why?

1861

Why?
1. First year of the Civil War.
2. Closing of three southern branch mints, two of which will never open again
3. All of the Philly (non-gold) coins are common or slightly scarce and can be easily obtained in collector grades. Leave out the silver dollar (the most difficult and expensive) and add the New Orleans half, and you still have a neat, historic seven coin set.
4. If you want to take the collection further, add the seated dollar then SF silver coins.
5. Further build on the set by adding the Philly gold. Only the 1861 $3 is expensive relative to the melt price of gold, so feel free to leave it out.
6. Still have desire and some deeper pockets? Add the branch mint gold.

crypto79

I am big on our centennial 1876 and the comprehensive reworking of most of the seated dies that came along with the era.

DRUNNER

Numismatic History???

1989 . . . the year the Doily was made!

Drunner

MidLifeCrisis

1652

JedPlanchet

1909 - the first year that a Presidential likeness was used on a coin.

derryb

1965, loss of real money when silver was removed from most all circulating US coinage.

OperationButter

<< <i>1965, loss of real money when silver was removed from most all circulating US coinage. >>



Thats a good answer

cladking

Easy question.

July 23, 1965.

It's the date that assured that there would be numismatic coins in circulation again someday. It
marked the beginning of the end of roll searching and saving of new coins and allowed me eventually
to have the whole playground almost to myself. Not that I'd have preferred it this way it was just the
way it was to be. Certainly at the time it felt more like a day that woulsd live in infamy since it also marked
the beginning of the end of old coins and silver coins in circulation. Even here though time proved me
wrong since the average age of coins in circulation is higher than it was in 1965 and the oldest coins in
circulation is much higher now.

illini420

<< <i>1909 - the first year that a Presidential likeness was used on a coin. >>




I'd probably vote 1909 as well

crypto79

TwoSides2aCoin

1999 or 2000

Coins with the same 3 ending digits, and to have that happen 2 years in a row. It won't happen for another 986 years. Mathematically and numismatically speaking, that is significant and a very rare occurence. Billions of people never saw that happen. My dad missed it but my mom saw it. Any child under the age of 12 never saw it, and billions over the age of 13 and billions more not yet born, won't live long enough to see that happen again, should man continue to date coins as he has for centuries.

A different view and twist on "significant".

golden

<< <i>1652


>>

Lakesammman

Tough question - 1792 and 1856 are past favorites.

Current favorite is 1849 for the Territorials that came out of California, Oregon and St. Lake City.

DeliaBug

Februay 20, 1851.

That date is the first day of the first auction sale that consisted primarily of numismatic content in the US.

oreville

summer 1965 because I lived through it so it had an incredible effect on me. It made me MORE determined to collect coin.

proof of the above;

December 1965 I got my Coin Collecting merit badge from Boy Scouts of America.

WillieBoyd2

To me, 1949, because that is when the San Francisco mint (along with the Mexico City mint)
struck 10,000,000 Mexican pesos for China, thus providing me with a interesting research project.

Unknown

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