What year coin has the most significance to you and why?
MFeld
Posts: 14,444 ✭✭✭✭✭
It can be for any reason, such as the birth year of a loved one, your favorite one-year design, the first coin you bought and/or added to your collection, remembrance of a significant event, you made a huge score on it or other.
Please feel free to include any related pictures and/or stories.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
9
Comments
I was born in 1968 and that is the 1st year of the modern proof set with the (S) MM, so it's just a given when I get asked a question like this.
Later, Paul.
1921.
My dad's birth year and a year where many of the coins minted are scarce.
peacockcoins
I'm developing an interest in Morgans, particularly 1879 for several reasons, including the reopening of the New Orleans Mint.
Thinking coin history: 1873. Many changes initiated by the coinage act.
Great question. 1830 and 1900 were years for which I collected coins at one point in time. 1830 was related to an historical event and 1900 just because it was the turn of the century.
1792 half disme, which the first U.S. coin issued for circulation under the Coinage Act of 1792.
My favorite year is 1840.
The dollar coin returned to circulation.
The half dollar came in my favorite version (small letters) and the new version too. More to collect.
The New Orleans mint began production of Half dollars. Varieties galore.
The New Orleans mint also began producing Quarters. Two versions again.
The Dimes of 1840 also came in two versions. what is more, the hand placement of stars on version one created a number of varieties. I consider the type 1 with star dimes to be one of the best designs America ever had.
Half Dimes follow a similar path as Dimes.
I just love that the mint and it's productuion was so fluid. In my life I have built collections of more than 2 dozen coins and never got past 1840. James
For what I focus on... early copper... there are a few dates that spring to mind ,but for my collection (and keeping to coins I actually have! ...no 1799, 1804.... 1787...) I'm partial to 1839. It was a year for a lot of varieties... here's one I sent in to our hosts last year:
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
1916 - for those designs in silver. I’m interested in your story too, Mark.
Modern era-1913-the most beautiful Buffalo Nickel Design appeared along with the fabled(to most) 1913 Liberty Head Nickel(V Nickel)
1800 Draped Bust Cent and ½ Cent-my favorite copper coin series. The U.S. Mint became it's own, reporting directly to the president. Interest in numismatic had a growth spurt with the mid income collectors.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
1909
because when I was about 11-12 years old (1962 or 1963) while coin roll searching with my dad, I found a 1909-S VDB cent in a roll of pennies. I still have it.
I believe that 1873 was also the year for the most different type coins ever.
There was a collector that was called "Mr. 1873" (Harry X Boosel) because he specialized in 1873 coins.
USAF veteran 1984-2005
Primarily birth years.
For me (1956), my wife (1958), my sons (1991 and 1993), my sister (1954), my parents (1920 and 1926), my wife's parents (1919 and 1928), my wife's maternal grandmother who I spent time with (1897), my maternal grand parents (1870 and 1877) and my paternal grandparents (whose birth years in the 1800's both escape me at this moment).
1893
I've always thought 1893 was one of the most significant years in American coinage.
Last year for Carson City
New Orleans Mint back in full swing producing 6 denominations
First Commemoratives celebrating the Columbian Expo
Only NCLT commem quarter ever issued
Second year for Barbars
1893-s Morgan
1902 was my grandmother's birth year and I look for nice coins with that date whenever I need a coin fix and want to spend money on something I really don't need.
Commems and Early Type
1792 is ultra cool but those were more patterns, despite the half dismes getting actual circulation. 1793 then is the king of all years, the true genesis of American coinage with three different cents and a half cent leading the charge out of the gate. I am fortunate to own two of the four in rough condition, will snag the other two someday.
I have noticed that 1838 because of the branch Mints. An 1838o half is a dream coin
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
1916 as it was the start of many Renaissance Coinage designs and 1921 as the mintages were very low that year and are quite scarce due to low survival rate.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Favorite year is 1927 because of the 1927-S half dollar.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Love your story! Thank you for sharing it with us. 😎
Back at you sir! Please share your story.🤔
Like a lot of collectors I have a soft spot for my birth year 1961. I have a full roll of 1961 silver quarters and love the 1961 Franklin half dollar.
My favorite year for coin collecting is 2019 because of the first W quarters produced by the Mint however 2020 is a close 2nd!😎
My grandfather was born in Philly in 1927, so I'm slowly (okay, one coin in) putting together a Philly set for that year... that idea is relatively new for me, and I don't think I'd think much about the date beyond that.
Longer term, I've always liked 1787 because it's 200 years before my birth year (and unlike some of you old folks, I was born in an era of unexciting moderns), and when I first got into collecting, my dream coin was an NJ copper. It took a long time to get one, but one requirement was that it had to be 1787, not 1786 or 1788. And Fugios are cool, too.
Yay! I like '27 too, but for a different reason.
My favorite is 1939, for the silliest of reasons - 39 was my jersey number in peewee football. Has been my go-to number for a long time.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
the 1926 sesquentenial gold commem. In the old daily. That's my dad's birth year (rip) and worth keeping
1909 So many cents can be collected from that year. I may eventually expand beyond cents for that year.
mark
Two years, 1932 and 1935, birth years of my parents. The latter year has a great many more coins.
My birth year coin that I had been dreaming about since childhood.
1869, as that was the first year that the Carson City Mint got dies....still waiting for one to show up! Abe Curry, Director of the Mint, did all sorts of things with the new press before striking coins. I suspect, one day, that one or more 69cc Morgan Dollars will show up. According to records they were received to late in the year to strike coins and thus were returned to Philly.
bob
I don't have one specific year that stands out as most significant, but rather a few.
US issues that begin with 17 are always appealing to me, as well as other denominations from this time period. No deep or significant reason behind the appeal other than the cool factor and that special "pizazz" the early dates present.
At one point I was a big fan of the year 1849. At that point in time I was living in the motherlode area of California, a few minutes south of Sutter's Mill, and consuming as much California Gold Rush history that I could find, books about the migration routes, old miner diaries, San Fran, Banditos of the era, etc.... so the date had that significance for me. I've since shook that bug, but still fond of the date.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Positive significance: 1652--John Hull strikes first coin in what would become the USA
Negative significance: 1965--the clad era begins.... (personal--no offense meant to modern collectors)
I'm not sure I have a favorite year. Huh.
Great thoughts here, and some definite considerations.
For my main collection (CBH's) there are so many great dates. I think 1817 would be the most financially challenging due to the '17/4 ... although 1827 would require over a couple of boxes for each of the Die Marriages, all by themselves!
But honestly, dates that start will 180 are really kind of sexy.
For 20th Century I was always fond of 1927 and 1928 (but I'm not really sure why), as well as my parents and grandparents birth years (various from 1899 to 1937).
1933 is a fascinating year, and I was fortunate to have complete the set of all the minors ... it was really difficult!
... but I might have to skip on the gold. 
1914 because of it's tie into the Federal Reserve, and the series 1914 Federal Reserve Currency.
There really are so many great dates with significance (big and small) in American Numismatics, I guess in the end, I love them all.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I don’t have a particular date for coins that I’m drawn to, but I am drawn to coins from the 1800s, so any date starting with 18 is my answer. 1900’s coins don’t seem to be old enough for me to be considered truly rare or historical to me, 1700’s coins are too expensive and/or often don’t have great eye appeal, but coins from the 1800s are just right as in having great eye appeal and are rare and historical enough for me not to feel silly spending hundreds or thousands of dollars for each one.
Mr_Spud
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
When I first started collecting by dates it seemed that birth years was a good place to start, so I looked at 1924 and 1925, my parents birth years. Then to my grandparents: 1892, 1895, and 1897. I have maintained an interest in old copper over the years as well and seem to really favor 1798 for some reason. Interesting question and the replies have been entertaining.
1869 is a cool year. Transcontinental railroad, etc.
1869 was also the year of the new "rainbow" series of greenbacks, which are some of the most beautiful paper money ever issued.
Plus, 1869 was the year of the first series of pictorial stamps, which are again, some of the most beautiful issued.
@MFeld , I'd love to hear (read) your answer to your question.
For me I'm partial to 1876. I find the 1870's to be an absolutely fascinating era in American history and subsequently, coinage. Especially with the significance of the centennial and how proud people must have felt to have made it 100 years. Just a few years prior I'm sure many an American had legitimate doubts the nation would see the anniversary intact. Not to say 76 was all peaches and cream. With the continuation of the painful reconstruction, the height of the Indian Wars and one of the most contentious presidential elections in the nations history (arguably even more contentious than those in recent times) I'm sure the year put many a grey hair on many a citizen. On the flip side though the year provided revolutionary industrial accomplishments and some truly historic technological innovations. 76 must have felt like an absolute whirlwind to those that lived it. My obsession with the San Francisco mint also lends itself very well to the lore of the American west and it's coinage in the 70's.
I'm embarrassed to say I have nothing in my collection dating to 1876. Hopefully that will change some day.
I don’t really have a favorite year but I have a bias towards 1870 when the Carson City mint opened.
Birth Year
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
1849, Duh 😂
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
During an All-Star game I was picked to play in... (double, with my picture in the paper, standing on second.)
Waiting on the bench scratching at the dirt at my feet, with my spikes (baseball shoes) up pops an (date ?) Indian head cent. I put it my other shoes, took it home and polished it for many days and many different ways.
Who knew ?
Probably 1964, my Born on date and the last year of the good coinage but I was too young to start hoarding silver.
I started my paper route in 1961. A coin collector went through my bag and picked out a bunch of goodies. In appreciation, he sent me a coin starter kit; hence, my beginning in numismatics. I've picked that year relative to this forum. There may be other years that have more life significance to me.
Same here, my Birth year 1964.
It was a significant year for circulating coinage, not to mention a Presidential change on the 1/2 Dollar, sadly.
But, it is a great design. 2025 is the last year for the Kennedy Half as we know it. It's been a great run!..
.
If I were Hansen, instead of trying to collect everything, I would have bought every 1870-cc coin that came to market, no matter what condition. The Dollar is the most common coin that year by far, with the gold coins and the quarter having around 100 or less known each. Hansen could have cornered the market on 1870-cc coinage and still had 500 million left over.