Name the "Blue Chips" of US coins
coinsRgood
Posts: 27 ✭
I am not talking about condition rarities or clandestine mint products like the 1913 liberty nickel or the 1884-5 Trade Dollars. I mean coins made for general circulation that have been in high demand by collectors for decades and have held or increased their value on an inflation-adjusted basis.
I'll start with a couple
1794 dollar
1802 half dime
What is on your list?
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I can't speak well to values on an inflation-adjusted basis, but as far as high demand items I think of things such as --
1921 Peace Dollar
1913 T-1 Buffalo 5c
First year issues of the Merc dime, SLQ, Walker.
This list could be expanded. Seems these first year of issue or unique one year type coins are high demand items. With the exception of the 1916 SLQ, most collectors can afford these items due to their availability which should always keep demand high.
While largely tied to bullion, MS $2.50 and $5 Indian gold, $10 Indian and of course St Gaudens $20 gold will always be in demand/popular with collectors.
Jeff
1916 SLQ, 1927-S SLQ, 1917 S Obv, WLH, 1919-D WLH, 1921-D WLH, 1921-S WLH, 1916 D Mercury dime & 1909 S VDB Lincoln cent come immediately to mind.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
The 1st and last 2 on your list are very popular but not really rare or scarce and have not maintained value on an inflation-adjusted basis for quite awhile IMO.
1839-O 50c
1838-D $5
Latin American Collection
Chain Cent
".... coins made for general circulation that have been in high demand by collectors for decades ..."
Looking at this statement, I would say - albeit likely unpopular - The Morgan Dollar fits that description.
Cheers, RickO
Yes, I vote for the Chain cent also.
When I first started casually looking at them 25 years ago they were expensive and in strong demand, and they've only gotten more expensive over the years.
1796 25c would be on my list - main reason being that everybody needs one for a complete type set
In addtion to what has been listed, a partial list:
Massachusetts NE Shilling
Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet
1792 Half Disme
1793 Chain Cent, especially the AMERI. variety.
1796 Quarter
1796-7 Half Dollar
1795 Half Eagle
1795 Eagle
1796 No Stars Quarter Eagle
1808 Quarter Eagle
1836 Gobrecht Dollar with the original coin turn, eagle flying onward and upward.
1907 High Relief $20 gold
1933 Double Eagle
That list by Walkerfan meets all your criteria in the first post.
Fwiw, being technically "scarce" wasn't even mentioned in your original post. And in those series, those are relatively very scarce dates, in great demand, that over the my lifetime have generally increased in value. Since when does being a blue chip mean gaining value every year? By that definition, the 1794 $SP66 wasn't a "blue" chip from around 1990-1996. And no doubt in the past 6 years a number of the blue chips among seated quarters have dropped in value. Even the 1933 $20 Saint wouldn't be a "blue chip" per your latest definition as MS65's have declined in value since the Farouk coin was sold about 15 yrs ago.
The coin sector has changed to the degree that the traditional view of what is considered to be blue chips have changed. This seems to be fair given what we know about surviving population and the condition of the surviving population.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
In addition to the above, I would include all years of bust dollars.
Just to be contrary I'll name a two moderns and that do not quite meet the criteria mentioned in the original post, but the stuff dreams are made of; a 1955 DDO or 1958 Class 1 DDO Lincoln Cent. They are out there. I'm still hoping to find one and strike it rich the next time I stop by a Coinstar machine (unless a Coinstar rejects a Stella and I grab it
).
1924-S and 1926-S Buffalo Nickels. Rare, expensive, and always in demand.
1848 CAL. $2.50
1854-S $2.50
1864 $2.50
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
1854-D Three dollar
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
69 S DDO