| Author |
 Replies: 31 / Views: 4,288 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
767 Posts |
Working on a type set, I am enjoying acquiring different examples of some interesting coins. The type set I am working on involves coins that changed design significantly over the years. I have 2 very neat 1840s for example. But then, when I think of completing this set, there's always this nagging thought... "oh yeah I have to get those 2 dates that are like 8 times the cost of all the others. Not much room to have different examples of those. I'll be lucky just to find one that I can afford that isn't corroded". Yuck! I don't think I'm a fan of key dates.  Edited by scottk
02/09/2015 10:16 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I loathe key dates. I see it as a metal disk whose metal was pushed a slightly different way than a different coin of the same design. I like variety in my collection, not a whole buch of the same type of coin, and some dates are so highly counterfeited that they take the fun out of obtaining those coins. I'll take an EF/AU Seated dollar over an G/VG 1916-D Mercury dime any day. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
I'm mostly a type collector so I don't usually bother with key dates. I don't have much fun assembling long, identical sets.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts |
I VAM, so the keys often require more hunting, at no increase in price. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Decades ago, I built an Australian pre decimal type set,
where each type was represented by the rarest date. Min grade would have been around Sheldon AU50.
The Melbourne Centenary Florin would have been a gem MS65.
The only exception was the type for the 1930 penny, which was represented by a 1925 penny. Sold the set in 1976 to help raise money to buy a house.
Hindsight says the house was a better investment.
That's type collecting the hard(est) way.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
TypeCoin971793:
Definition of any coin:
Disk of metal with funny bumps on
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
When given a choice between a 1932 D quarter and a 1932 P in same condition, I will choose the 1932 P because it will be much more affordable. I like variety and don't feel the need to have complete sets of the same coin. I have this eerie feeling that after I pass and one of my family members inherits my collection, they would look at a key date like the 1932 D and think to themselves... "why did he save this coin". Shortly after that they get thirsty and buy a pop using some of my collection.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
383 Posts |
I'm fond of them and accepted their pricey nature, since the types & mints my collecting interests are focused on mean that most of them are key dates.
ET
Edited by EarlyTurban
02/10/2015 08:27 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Quote:
Definition of any coin:
Disk of metal with funny bumps on I know. I just don't want to pay 10-200x more for a slightly different bump. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
In the back of the Red Book there is a list of the top 250 coin prices from auctions. Imagine making a type set of all of those. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
After collecting for 45 years, I find myself looking at my collection and wondering why I have so many common coins.
I know there is a division with collectors about just collecting and investment. I am not sure it has really been answered here.
For me I wish I had collected more semi-key and key date coins.
I understand the fun of filling the holes in albums, for me it is a sickness
I have no escape from.
"But" ...as I have gotten older I want my collection to have good value,
weather I am going to pass it down or sell ....I still want it to be worth
more than I paid for it.
I guess to sum it up.. Better grade, semi-key and key dates will hold their
value ..or increase in value much more than common date coins.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
I am building denomination sets so I have to like them. I would prefer they were more affordable though.  The good thing about type sets is that you can avoid the key dates and fill the holes with more common coins. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19944 Posts |
I agree with GR58, I like them and would sell all my common stuff to get as many as possible....a project I've been working on the last few years, i.e. purging common stuff and looking for the uncommon. Personally, I'd rather have a few good coins than a 1000 common ones.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1373 Posts |
For me, key dates =  The value of each coin I need for my set completion is the same. The more money I need for a special date makes me LESS happy to acquire it. I'm still very content in collecting current common coins. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Just what is a 'key date?'
The lowest mintage?
The most famous?
The most 'hyped?'
For me, it is those coins which I need to complete my goal.
And if I find one or more of those coins along the way I am and have been willing to sell
common ( and not so common coins ) which longer fit into my plan.
'Less is more' has been my guiding principle for the last decade.
And when the pickings are poor, which happens more and more as of late, I look at those few special
coins which I had the presence of mind to buy when the opportunity presented itself.
It is a satisfying feeling...
|
|
Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
I personally love key dates. It's the prices that don't love me. Sell the common, acquire the keys and have a ton of patience. Quote:
Personally, I'd rather have a few good coins than a 1000 common ones  |
| |
Replies: 31 / Views: 4,288 |
Posted 02/09/2015 10:47 pm
