Top 10 Modern Coins... what's your list?
ModernCoinMart
Posts: 339 ✭✭
For the sake of this discussion, we'll call anything 1950-present as Modern. What is your top 10 list of Modern Coins? And also for the sake of this discussion, let's talk condition rarities as well as absolute rarities. I'm sure cladking can give us a few condition rarities from the Mint State regular issues, and maybe someone can chime in on some of the tougher Jeffersons and Roosevelts in high grades with steps and full torches and other such coins.
I'll try to stick to my area of expertise on this list and not include some of the more obvious ones as I'd like to see some of our other experts do the same to share with the group the toughest coins in their areas.
#1 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle - ~30,000 mintage, very popular, undisputed King of the Silver Eagles.
#2 1993 $25 Gold Eagle in Proof 70 - One of the absolute toughest coins to get in a Proof 70 holder at NGC or PCGS, less than 75 graded between both companies. By comparison, NGC has graded 125 95-W Silver Eagles in PF70. The 1993 Proof Gold Eagles generally don't come very nice, but the $25 is especially tough, though the $50 and $10 are also tough in PF70.
#3 1997 Unc $5 Jackie Robinson Commemorative - Very small mintage and certainly a popular person have made this one a key in the modern commemoratives.
#4 2001 Unc Capitol Visitor - Again, small mintage though not as popular of a subject as Jackie Robinson.
#5 1994-P Silver Eagle PF70 - I'll just group the description for the 93 and 94 together, since it's pretty much the same.
#6 1993-P Silver Eagle PF70 - The 93 and 94 are "semi-keys" for the Proof Silver Eagles, and especially tough in PF70. Almost as tough to find as a 95-W in PF70. These can sometimes be a stopper for someone that wants to do a PF70 Silver Eagle set because of the prices they bring. Some people choose to ignore the 95-W in PF70 in such a set, but it's hard to ignore the 93 and 94.
#7 2004 Proof Platinum Eagles - A pretty easy one. Low mintage, and lots of promotion created a lot of demand for these. There are plenty of collectors out there that are hanging onto a set of these, even though they don't regularly collect the Proof Platinums.
#8 2003-W $100 Platinum Eagle PF70 - This is the Proof Platinum equivalent of the 1993 Gold Eagles. For some reason, 2003 didn't come very nice. While the date is sometimes considered slightly better than common, the PF70s, especially on the $100, are very tough and command big premiums when you can find one.
#9 2000 Bi-Metallic Library of Congress - The Unc is fairly scarce with the Proof being more available, but you just can't deny the neat factor on these coins.
#10 1996 Mint State Silver Eagle - The only Unc Silver Eagle that commands a premium over common dates. Not huge, but it is the only key date for the unc Silver Eagles
Alright, there's my 10 coins... what's yours?
I'll try to stick to my area of expertise on this list and not include some of the more obvious ones as I'd like to see some of our other experts do the same to share with the group the toughest coins in their areas.
#1 1995-W Proof Silver Eagle - ~30,000 mintage, very popular, undisputed King of the Silver Eagles.
#2 1993 $25 Gold Eagle in Proof 70 - One of the absolute toughest coins to get in a Proof 70 holder at NGC or PCGS, less than 75 graded between both companies. By comparison, NGC has graded 125 95-W Silver Eagles in PF70. The 1993 Proof Gold Eagles generally don't come very nice, but the $25 is especially tough, though the $50 and $10 are also tough in PF70.
#3 1997 Unc $5 Jackie Robinson Commemorative - Very small mintage and certainly a popular person have made this one a key in the modern commemoratives.
#4 2001 Unc Capitol Visitor - Again, small mintage though not as popular of a subject as Jackie Robinson.
#5 1994-P Silver Eagle PF70 - I'll just group the description for the 93 and 94 together, since it's pretty much the same.
#6 1993-P Silver Eagle PF70 - The 93 and 94 are "semi-keys" for the Proof Silver Eagles, and especially tough in PF70. Almost as tough to find as a 95-W in PF70. These can sometimes be a stopper for someone that wants to do a PF70 Silver Eagle set because of the prices they bring. Some people choose to ignore the 95-W in PF70 in such a set, but it's hard to ignore the 93 and 94.
#7 2004 Proof Platinum Eagles - A pretty easy one. Low mintage, and lots of promotion created a lot of demand for these. There are plenty of collectors out there that are hanging onto a set of these, even though they don't regularly collect the Proof Platinums.
#8 2003-W $100 Platinum Eagle PF70 - This is the Proof Platinum equivalent of the 1993 Gold Eagles. For some reason, 2003 didn't come very nice. While the date is sometimes considered slightly better than common, the PF70s, especially on the $100, are very tough and command big premiums when you can find one.
#9 2000 Bi-Metallic Library of Congress - The Unc is fairly scarce with the Proof being more available, but you just can't deny the neat factor on these coins.
#10 1996 Mint State Silver Eagle - The only Unc Silver Eagle that commands a premium over common dates. Not huge, but it is the only key date for the unc Silver Eagles
Alright, there's my 10 coins... what's yours?
0
Comments
1) 1955 Double Die Cent
2) 1969 S Double Die Cent
3) 1972 Double Die Cent
4) 1971 No S Proof Nickel
5) 1982 No Mint Mark Dime
6) 1950 D D over S Quarter
7) 1964 PR69 DCAM Accented Hair Kennedy
8) 1981 S Proof Type 2 SBA
9) Cheerios Sac
10) 2008 Rev 2007 ASE
#2- 1974 Aluminum Cent - (legality issues aside here) - if you can't own this one, then the 1958 DDO cent slips in here just fine!
#3 - 1975 NO S Dime
#4 - 1968 NO S Dime
#5 - 1969 DDO Cent
#6 - 1990 NO S Cent
#7 - Cheerios Dollar
#8 - 1995-W Silver Eagle (as was put to me once - the 1909-SVDB cent of this generation). A true "70" graded coin is very, very tough, especially because these silver eagle coins tend to spot over time - a serious, serious concern to collectors).
#9 - 2004 Proof Plat Set - if you had to pick one coin it would be the $50 coin but all denominations are popular.
#10 Tie between 1997 $100 Plat PR70DCAM and 1993 $25 Gold PR70DCAM - the key "condition quality" coins in their respective fields.
I know I may have missed a few, but, I would sure love to own every coin on this list
Wondercoin
2. 1996 unc. smithsonian $5 gold
3. 1995 unc. civil war $5 gold
4. 2001 proof silver $1 buffalo
5. 2001 unc. silver $1 buffalo
6. 1999 silver proof set
7. 1996 prestige proof set
8. 1997 unc. jackie robinson $5 gold
9. 2000 bi-mrtallic library of congress unc. and proof
10. 1994 proof silver eagle
The coins and sets listed are in no particular order, just some of my favorites.
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2. 2001-w CVC $5 unc
3. 2001-W LOC $10 Plat & Gold
4. 1999-W Smithson $5 Gold Unc
5. 1996-D Olympic Wheelchair $1 Unc
6. 1996-D Olympic High jump $1 Unc
7. 1996-D Olympic Rowing $1 Unc
8. 1996-D Olympic Tennis $1 Unc
9. 2000-P Cheerios SAC $1
10. 1995-W Proof ASE
My favorite #1 by Far is the Gold outerspace SAC $1. It doesn't make the list because it is in Gov't hands.
And a good analogy between the 95-W and the SVDB Cent.
Guess that is why I stay away from this stuff. There is a new set of rules to collect them.
<< <i>Not sure what the OP has in mind. They list a bunch of grades in their list, so are those in a lower grade not on the list. What if one in a lower grade gets a new label with a bigger number?
Guess that is why I stay away from this stuff. There is a new set of rules to collect them. >>
That is why I specified in the first paragraph that we can also talk condition rarities, not just absolute rarities... coins that are especially scarce in 70, or in the case of other series, 67, 68, etc.
The 1993-P Proof $25 Gold Eagle is a common coin... however, it is pretty scarce in PF70.
2. 2008-W Reverse of 2007 Silver Eagle - 47,000 Mintage
3. 2006 American Silver Eagle 20th Anniversary Coin Set Low Mintage when compared to 1994, 1993.
4. 1996 Mint State Silver Eagle.
5. 1993, 1994 - Proof silver Eagle
6. 2006 American Gold Eagle 20th Anniversary Coin Set
7. 2004 Proof Platinum Eagles.
8. 2001 Unc Capitol Visitor.
9. 2000 Bi-Metallic Library of Congress - The Unc is fairly scarce with the Proof being more available, but you just can't deny the neat factor on these coins.
10. Bald Eagle Commemorative 3 Coins set.
1969 S Doubled die cent die-1 (any grade)
1970 S Doubled die cent die-1 (any grade)
1955 Doubled die cent die-1 (in anything RB or RD)
1972 Doubled die cent die-1 (in 65+)
2000 Cheerios Sac (any grade)
Beyond these 5 I start getting less modern
I have a bias for cents and varieties and less for NCLT.
1958 Double Die cent. Come on, how could you forget???
The 1999 Obverse Lincoln, Reverse Roosevelt Dime Mule struck on a cent planchet.
The Dollar/Quarter Mules have to be in there too...
#2 Fred Weinberg stuff, mules etc.
#3 2000 bimetal in proof, i know the unc is more rare and was harder to mint and grade well, but i'd go on "purdy" factor
#4 95-W proof ASE (spotless, in OGP)
#5 Reverse gold
#6 Reverse silver
#7 a cherry DCAM accented hair Kennedy
i could list many that have appreciated a lot but above is what i would lke to have, i have only the reverse silver
PCGS graded F/S 2008 ASE with rev. of 2007 .... only 1675 graded & I doubt if the totals will go up by much more....
Another sleeper is the: PCGS F/S $25 2008 proof Buffalo...only 448 graded & the Mint has sold less than 1,000 so far ( in the single option) .....only time will tell. The above 2 are for the First Strike designation coins only....
<< <i>I believe the 1999 W mintmark $5 and $10 gold eagles struck on unfinished dies belong on the list. >>
Good call. I agree.
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Although I've looked over the years, nothing really has ever come close.
peacockcoins
My list edited accordingly - you are right!
Wondercoin
Any 1965 to 1967 SMS coin in top grade Deep Cameo.
I'd mention the DCAM Accented Hair, but I see some highly intelligent sophisticated collectors already have.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe the 1999 W mintmark $5 and $10 gold eagles struck on unfinished dies belong on the list. >>
Good call. I agree. >>
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
1955 DDO cent - amazing doubling, these coins should have been destroyed but they had a cent shortage
1950-D nickel - a celebrated rarity in its day, only to tumble from its lofty perch when it was hoarded in record numbers
1982 cent - certainly not rare but with several varieties it is certainly one of the more interesting modern cents
1964-D Peace dollar - oh how the numismatic community salivates for the proof of but one coin's survival. It remains a legend and is just as unobtainable as million dollar coins are to most collectors
1974 aluminum cent - as above, though these most certainly do survive in some small quantity
2000 "Cheerios" Sacajawea dollar - great story, a rare coin in cereal boxes
1999 Delaware quarter - how it warmed the hearts of collectors and piqued the interest of the non-collectors to have new designs in their change, plus a set of 50 coins that they could put together from pocket change. Future numismatics, as well as many present ones will admit that state quarters started it all.
2000-W gold Sacajawea dollar - to infinity and beyond! The government needs money, maybe they should auction a few of these off..
1995-W silver eagle - a legend in its own time and continues to appreciate
1995 DDO cent - One day they were extreme rarities, the next everyone was finding them in change.
<< <i>#1 - 1976 NO S $1 - One of only -2- unique (non-error) US coins of the 20th Century I am aware of (although there may be a 3rd).
Wondercoin >>
I'm not familiar with this coin, do you have any info as to the story?
2)Mules ( Sacagawea/Washington)
3)1958 DDO Lincoln
4)1969 S DDO Lincoln
5)1955 DDO Lincoln
6)2000 P Cheerios Sacagawea
7)2000 P Library of Congress BiMetallic Unc
8)1995 W American Silver Eagle
9)Reverse Proofs ANY
10) Tough to narrow this down to ten coins
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
1. 1964 SMS 1c
2. 1964 SMS 5c
3. 1964 SMS 10c
4. 1964 SMS 25c
5. 1964 SMS 50c
6. 1967 FS 5c
7. 1969 25c in gem or better
8. 1969-S DDO 1c
9. 1983-S Proof 1c w/o S
10. 1992-D (?) 1c w/ close AM
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That said, I love the small fractional plats (because they aren't as effected by bullion swings and are likely to build a larger collector base due to affordability). Looking at the proof sales figures, I believe they are all scarce in proof.
'dude
1983 Double Die reverse cent
2000 Cheerios Sac
1982 and 1983 Quarters in high grade
Those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head that I like to keep an eye on.
I would add the 1991 $25 gold unc eagle; also the special mint set Jeff nickels from the 90s, which still seem overlooked to me.
And the sleeper? I go with Louisa Adams unc. I know...call me CRRAAAA-ZEEEE!
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1. 1969D Full Step (total in all grades: 0)
2. 1967 Non-SMS Full Step (total in all grades: 0)
3. 1960D Full Step (total in all grades: 0)
4. 1969S Full Step (total in all grades: 0)
5. 1965 Non-SMS Full Step (total in all grades: 1)
6. 1968D Full Step (total in all grades: 1)
7. 1970D Full Step (total in all grades: 3)
8. 1966 Non-SMS Full Step (total in all grades: 6)
9. 1964 SMS (total supposedly minted, even though more are graded: 10)
10. 1953S Full Step (total in all grades: 17)
Steve
Edited because I forgot some... and wanted to add the current pops. Yeap... 28 current possible coins out of 1,420,979,313 or nevermind... my computer couldn't calculate the percentage available.
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<< <i>
10. 1953S Full Step (I've got one of these) >>
Me too! (65FS)
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Only coin that ever brought tears to my eyes and made me weak-kneed.
Not only a lock MS68 business strike silver Ike, it's also a proof Ike, not unusual for pattern coins.
I call it a "stem-cell" Ike. So far it is unique inspite of being the subject of some discussion on this forum, the cover story of the May-June "ErrorScope", and the subject of a flyer Lee and I handed out at several major coin shows saying this was a $20K coin so you might just want to check your underwear drawer. . .
By Monday afternoon the article I wrote after living with it for several months will be up on our website www.ikegroup.org , under "articles". Rob
Questions about Ikes? Go to The IKE GROUP WEB SITE
1)1996 Silver Eagle
2)2001-S Proof Sacagawea
3)2001 Buffalo Commem
4)1996-W Roosevelt
5)1970-D Kennedy
6)1981-S type II SBA
7)1960 Proof DDO Roosevelt
8)High and/or Low leaf Wisconsin Qtrs
9)2005 Marines Commem
10)1992 Olympic Baseball Commem
<< <i>Nap: I believe Jamie Hernandez is doing a story on the 1976 No S Ike later this month. There is also a good summary of the coin in the 6th Edition of the Judd Pattern book. The bottom line I believe is 3 coins were minted and presented to President Ford and his staff and then the US Mint took back two coins in order to display them at the Summer 1974 ANA show - showing the public what the new Bicentennial Ike would look like. Following the exhibition, the Mint MELTED the displayed Ike coins leaving just a single, unique, example remaining out there. The coin traded hands a few times after (purportedly) being found in a cash register in Washington DC around 1976 and then was auctioned off by Bowers a number of years ago where I ended up high bidder. The coin is the cornerstone of my modern coin collection and, I believe, THE most important modern (1950-date) coin in existence as its shares the position of being the only unique non-error coin produced by the US mint in the entire 20th century along with an SLQ pattern (although I am told there may also be a unique Peace Dollar (from 1922?)which I have personally not confirmed). If anyone has any information on any other unique (non-error) coins of the 20th Century, please send me a direct as I believe an article is underway on the topic. Wondercoin >>
Thanks Wondercoin, very cool! Stories like this make for great coins, whether they are from 20 years ago or 200.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming article.
1) 1c 1955 doubled die
2) 1c 1960 small date
3) 1c 1969-S doubled die
4) 1c 1990 no-S proof
5) 5c 1950-D
6) 10c 1975 no-S proof
7) 10c 1982 no-P
8) 10c 1996-W
9) 25c 1965 (seriously)
10) 25c/50c/$1 1976 bicentennial
11) 25c 1999-(P or D) Delaware
12) 50c 1964
13) $1 1979-(P/D/S) (seriously)
14) $1 2000-(P/D) normal
15) $1/25c [2000]-P mule
16) commemorative 50c 1982 Washington
17) commemorative 50c/$1/$5 1986 Statue of Liberty
18) 1oz Ag/1 oz Au 1986 American eagles
19) 1oz Ag 1995-W American eagle
20) pattern 1c 1974 aluminum
The Cheerios dollar and prototype Ike dollar may belong on the list, but ask me in five to ten years.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
1976-P T1 Ike
1972 Ike
1981-p fs nickel
1973-s cent
1969 quarter
1983-p quarter
1970 dime
1971 half
1982-p half
1971 Ike