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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,065 |
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Valued Member
Spain
134 Posts |
Hi, I have 2 doubts that someone surely can help me with. I'm trying to figure out which coins from a catalog are key dates, but I'm not sure if variants of a same year and known errors also count as key dates. For example: the US Standing Liberty quarter from 1918 is not a key date, but the 1918/7 is the most difficult coin from this series; would this variant be a key date? What about known cataloged error coins; would these also be considered key dates? My second doubt is about edge types... what is the difference between a reeded edge and a milled edge? I'm looking at 2 coins with both types and they seem exactly the same to me. How can I identify if a coin has a reeded or a milled edge? Thanks... Edited by silvermaniac
11/16/2011 3:47 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The term "key dates" does not really refer strictly to the dates. It refers to the most expensive pieces in a set of coins. So in your example the 1918 is not a key date but the overdate IS considered to be a key date.
As for edge types, technically any coin made by machine if a milled coin and any edge applied by machine can be called a milled edge. In common usage the terms milled edge and reeded edge are used interchangably.
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Valued Member
 Spain
134 Posts |
Thanks for you help,
So, regarding the edges; it won't matter how the edge of the coin was made, I can still describe it as a redeed edge -whether it was milled or not-. Is this correct?
I'm confused because I see in catalogs that they describe some coins as milled, and other as reeded; when both look to me exactly the same.
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Valued Member
Spain
134 Posts |
One doubt more about key dates...
Would all the issues of a same type be key dates, if these are way more expensive and scarce than the rest of coins from the same denomination and period? I mean, image that all types of 1 dollar coins from the late 1800 cost around $1,000, except one type with only 4 issues that cost way more; would these 4 coins (the whole type) be key dates?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
One of the problems with that term of key dated coins is it is used by so many in different ways. One of the ways it is used is for coins that are difficult to find to complete a collection. This is the one that irritates me the most since a collection based on an Album, varies by Album manufacturer. An example of this is the Lincoln Cent collections where in some Albums the 22 Plain, 55 & 72 & 95 Doubled Dies have slots so this would make them a key date for Album completion. Although those are really Mint Errors, for some unknown reason some Album manufacturers consider them real, necessary coins to complete a series. This is also noted in many other types of coins. Another stupid example is the Mercury dime 1942/41 & 42D/41. Again, these now become what could be noted as Key Dates due to the necessity of set completion. Yet so many say only the 16D, 21 & 21D are the true Key Dates in that series. Not always are Key Dates really Rare coins either. Just as noted above, necessarily required to complete a set. Many consider a Key Dated coin one that is expensive. Again, that is a rather vague explanation since expense to some is only normal to others. |
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Valued Member
Spain
134 Posts |
Yes, that's more or less why I'm having so many doubts; I see different key dates in many different places -as you say, some count the overdates and errors, and other don't; and some include most expensive coins, and some don't-.
What I'm trying to figure out is a method to know by myself which are the key dates without having to look them up. For example: picking up a simple price catalog and determining which ones are the key dates by only looking at the mintage and price. At first I assumed that the key dates would be all those years in a series that are far more expensive than the rest; and including overdates and errors (if they are cataloged). But I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, and I often find problems like the one posted above: what happens if the 4 coins a series are far more expensive than other coins from the same denomination and era; is the whole series (the 4 coins) considered key dates?
Do you use any method/formula to determine the key dates; or do you always look them up?
Edited by silvermaniac
02/04/2012 5:42 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
At first I assumed that the key dates would be all those years in a series that are far more expensive than the rest; and including overdates and errors (if they are cataloged) That pretty much nails it. |
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Valued Member
Spain
134 Posts |
Thanks...
And what about the example with the series of 4 coins that are far more expensive than the other series of the same denomination and era... would these 4 coins (the whole series) be key dates? I mean, could a whole series be key dates; or it would have to be just the most expensive ones in the same series?
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
The whole series could be keys, like the stellas.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not to confuse you but remember that with coins, there really isn't an ONLY. By this I mean there are many price guides and they are all just that, GUIDES. No one really knows how many of a certain coin is left in the world after a few years of circulation. No one knows for sure how many people want a certain coin since no one even knows how many coin collectors there are in the USA or on Earth. And there is no such thing as a manufacturers suggested price except what it states on the coin itself. So a Dime is really only a 10 Cent coin and if you think it's worth a million dollars, so maybe it is and maybe it isn't. No one really knows how many coin Albums are out there and how many people have them and how many use them. In other words almost anyone can say this coin is a key date and just who can say they are right or wrong?  |
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Valued Member
Spain
134 Posts |
Quote:
In other words almost anyone can say this coin is a key date and just who can say they are right or wrong? That was sort of what I was going to ask next.... just to be sure.  Edited by silvermaniac
02/04/2012 10:20 pm
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,065 |
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Posted 11/16/2011 3:52 pm
