Show Us Your Key Dates!

That is a great 8R Jgenn. I really like the big spanish coins.

Here's a key date from the bust quarters series.

Wow, I am so glad to see so much participation in this thread! And I am stunned at just how many "key dates" there actually are!

I'm having a lot of fun researching all these coins and finding out what makes each one so special.

1946 Walking Liberty - Double Die Reverse

In my opinion.

It has a lot to do with what you are collecting.

If your collecting just a general set of Jefferson nickels. Then the 1939D, 1942 and 1950D
could be considered the keys. If you collecting a complete set of Jefferson nickels, with major
varieties, then that opens up a lot more keys. With the 1970 no "S" proof maybe being the top
key.

With Morgan dollars the 1895 will most likely be the king of any Morgan collection.
Other than the 1895, a regular set of Morgan's will have many keys and semi keys.
If you are collecting Morgan's by VAM's, there are many that are common VAM's and
Some very expensive (key) VAM's.

Everyone has a different idea on how to collect, and what the keys are ...

The idea sort of started on, if collectors like have high priced holes in their sets.

If a person was collecting a set of Walking Liberty half dollar, with varieties.
Check out the price of a 1946 DDR, as posted above. About the. Only place
I see prices for a MS64 is at HA or NGC price guide ...

I guess what I am saying ... Is price has a lot to do with what I consider a key.
Price .. Above what a similar coin sells for.

I'm also wondering whether NCLT (Non-Circulating Legal Tender) coins, such as the silver proof versions of modern coins, can be considered "key dates", regardless of the mintage figures. But, you know what? It's all good...

Feel free to correct me but I think this ASE set is a key.

2013 West Point Set

I understand that to some collectors NCLT, errors and varieties coins are not keys.

If a person is collecting a a complete a NCLT set ... Or a set with errors and varieties
then how could they not be included as keys ... For that set.


For example, in the Lincoln Wheat cent set, some albums have a port for 1922 no "D"
which is a error coin. Some Mercury dime sets have ports for 1941/2 coins, which
Is either a variety or error coin.

Many of the coins posted are in the Red Book. Which to me gives them a nod to
be included into a complete set.

I understand some not wanting them to be included in some cases. The 1922 no D
is a very expensive coin ..that to be does not even look good.
if I had a choice I would not want a port in my album for such a coin.

I have no choice ...it is part of a complete set ... That's how Dansco sees it.
It is a low mintage ...high cost coin ... Which makes it a key.

All ASE coins are NCLT, but they are collected ...as sets, by a large number
of collectors. The low mintage, high priced coins ...would be keys