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 Replies: 47 / Views: 5,025 |
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Valued Member
United States
151 Posts |
Ron Guth of PCGS considers the 1909-S cent to be a key date, while Jaime Hernandez, also of PCGS, considers it a semi-key. They both have input in PCGS CoinFacts, yet here they differ. That sort of sums up keys and semi-keys - there is no authoritative list that all agree on. It really bothers me!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
Sorta, kinda like the '82 & '83 nickels, depends who you ask & if they're
selling.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Right, there is no authoritative list, and there likely never will be, in part because rarity varies considerably with condition. In the Lincoln cents, for example, the 1909-SVDB is a key in Fine, while the 1926-S is a semi-key in the same grade. But in MS 65RD, the 1926-S is a super key, while the 1909-SVDB is a far less expensive semi-key.
Edited by Coinfrog
07/09/2019 5:55 pm
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Moderator
 United States
189142 Posts |
In my opinion, there is one key per series. Everything else is semi-key. For some I suppose it is just easier to say key than semi-key.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7055 Posts |
I'm with Jbuck on this one...
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
It doesn't really matter to me as long as TPG will never list it on their labels . I have my own way of knowing what is a key and what is a semi-key .  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
jbuck - So what defines your single key? Mintage? Price? Popularity?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
1. IMO a mint errors cannot be a key or a semi key.
So that takes a few pricey coins out of consideration.
2. IMO proofs errors cannot be a key or a semi key.
3. That leaves me with two coins as keys: 1909-SVDB and 1914-D.
A 1909-S and a 1931-S I look on as semi-keys.
I base this all on catalog value.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
But catalog value in what grade?
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
IMHO - Key and semi key is based on rarity of normal mint issue coins IE... how many where minted and survive in collectors hands.... all errors and varieties are "gravy" Grading just adds another dimension of desirability.
Any regularly minted coin with a low mintage will usually have a higher premium because of perceived scarcity regardless of reality.
I think Kanga basically nailed the Lincoln pennies..
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
What about other series? Do you agree with jbuck that there is only one key for a series?  |
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
I tend to follow the "long" established basic semi and key dates and most of that is based on mintage and survival rates.. There are a few exceptions where coinage was "melted" some silver dollars ect.. where mintage was high but most got melted.., Call me a traditionalist in this area |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Not sure there are any "long established" guidelines for any series, including the Lincoln wheats. When I was collecting as a kid, the keys were the '09-S, '09-SVDB, '14-D and '31-S. Semi-keys were the other S and D mints through 1915, 1922-D, 1924-D and the 1926-S.
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
You wouldn't considered that established? |
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Moderator
United States
34426 Posts |
For me, if I have to save up a month or two to buy one, then it is a semi-key. Saving up to buy a key takes a year (or more, depending on the series).  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
United States
177 Posts |
You nailed it Spence :) availability = Price as a general rule
The more folks as a general rule are willing to pay for a particular coin the more we perceive it as a "rare" or key /semi key and that is almost always tied to mintage and survival rates...
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Replies: 47 / Views: 5,025 |
Posted 07/09/2019 5:15 pm
