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 Replies: 31 / Views: 4,300 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1358 Posts |
I'm coming to realize that I don't collect coins for the money but for fun in getting as many different dates as possible, so condition doesn't really matter to me. Key dates aren't of much concern to me right now since I don't have enough money to buy them, regardless of condition. If I ever do I'd probably go for the lowest-grade, problem-free, attributable genuine coin I can find. At least lowball sets are a thing now...
As far as loathing key dates, I really don't. I would rather a set didn't have any, but then there goes the challenge.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
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Less is more I totally agree. Key dates are like the Holy Grail of collecting. It is the end of the journey. The quest is fun, the journey is full of memorable experiences along the way, but what is the point of the journey unless you quest fro the grail at the end. I don't think that I could collect unless I genuinely thought that I could complete the set. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Interesting how there is quite a sharp division on this subject.
How about just collecting scarce or rare types, and scarce denominations? You would certainly have an interesting collection for others to look at.
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Moderator
 United States
189673 Posts |
Well, if everyone collected key dates then they would be even more expensive.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2850 Posts |
Sell the common stuff for one good coin. I was never into filling up an album anyway, I'd rather buy one already complete and then upgrade from there. If we were talking currency, I would sell all my coins for one good piece of currency.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I'd rather have one nice example of an early American gold coin (pre-1834) or early American silver coin (pre-1808) than an entire set of Lincoln cents of the same value. That way, I fill in a hole in my set and I have a coin that is far rarer than any Lincoln Cent. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I'm in the love camp........just can't afford many.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
I don't mind key dates. I am not much into the obscure varieties though. Having the odd blank or two in a range of 30 or 40 or 50 years does not bother me too much as it keeps me interested. Once I fill a range (say 1937 to date)I kind of lose interest and not look at that album too much any more.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5862 Posts |
As a general rule, I don't care a fig for key dates. I primarily collect type coins and proof coins, and in both cases I try to avoid key dates since they tend to be much more expensive and I can fulfill my goal without the extra expense.
As an investor, however, I do seek out key dates as I can afford them. These are not really part of my overall collection, however.
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New Member
United States
16 Posts |
I think the key dates are what add a challenge. Sure they are harder to come by and may end up costing more than most of the other pieces in the set combined but if you know that going into it then you can be prepared. I like to complete things so I would have to get the key dates even if I had to get a lower quality piece. Grooming and updating a collection is part of the fun as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1629 Posts |
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Just what is a 'key date?'
The lowest mintage?
The most famous?
The most 'hyped?' To me, the answer is most hyped. In most cases there's little to validate the price differences between key date coins and their more "common" counterparts. Especially in today's world where you can typically find several examples in most auctions, dealer sites, etc. For example: I collect Proof Indian cents. I can buy a nice PR63-64 RB for less than $400 that has a mintage of less than 3000 examples for most years. Yet the '77 (mintage of 852,500) I'd be lucky to be able to buy in good condition for the same price. IT'S ALL HYPE! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I don't really like key dates. I think it is discouraging to collectors who don't have deep pockets to be limited in completing a set because there is a key date coin that costs moon money. At some point, it is not collecting so much as just being able to lay down the cold hard cash. There are very few sets out there where you can just collect them without needing to make a big purchase at some point.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9795 Posts |
I LOVE them when I own them, I hate them when they are needed for a set to complete!
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5862 Posts |
FWIW, I just started a separate thread here so people can show off their key date coins if they want to. Show 'em if you got 'em! |
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Moderator
United States
189673 Posts |
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I LOVE them when I own them, I hate them when they are needed for a set to complete!  |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 4,300 |
First Page
Posted 02/10/2015 2:38 pm
