What Is "Key", When Collecting Coins?
Key Coin: A coin that is among the toughest and Most Expensive to obtain within a series. In the Lincoln Cent series, for example, the 1909-S VDB would be considered the key, as would the 1914-D and often the 1922-Plain.
A coin somewhat lesser in stature but still among the tougher in a series to collect is called a semi-key; the 1909-S and 1931-S fulfill this role within the Lincoln Cent series for many collectors. Both key coins and semi-key coins are in great demand due primarily to the limited supply of coins available. Since this increases the demand for such coins, the results are higher prices for all such coins. Coins with higher grades are even more difficult to acquire.
The grade of a coin is everything in coin collecting. This entices the rogues and cheats to misrepresent a coin's grade or quality. But this only works with raw coins. A certified and graded coin - by PCGS, NGC, ICG or ANACS - stifles the would be cheat and insures authenticity. In fact, these companies guarantee the coin's Authenticity, Identity, and Grade. I have seen company representatives, at trade shows, pay immediate cash reimbursements where a coin was mis-graded, or had a questionable identity or grade. The extra protection offered by a sealed slab, helps to maintain a coins condition and grade, which in turn keeps the value at a higher level than raw coins. Many people have had their entire collections sent in for certification and grading for the protection and value alone. It certainly increases a coins marketability, and eliminates any doubts about what is being bought or sold.
Other "Key" Dates include the following:
Lincoln Cents: 1909 S, 1909 S VDB, 1914 D, 1922 no mint, 1931 S
Jefferson Nickel: 1938-D, 1938-S, 1939-D, 1939-S and 1950-D
Roosevelt Dimes: 1949, 1949 S, 1950 S, and the 1951 S
Washington Quarters: 1932 D, 1932 S, 1934 - with Double Die Obverse (DDO), 1935 D, 1936 D, 1937 - with Double Die Obverse (DDO), 1937 S, 1938 S, 1939 S, 1940 D, 1942 D - with Double Die Obverse (DDO), 1942 D - with Double Die Reverse (DDR),1943 - with Double Die ?, 1943 S - with Double Die Obverse (DDO), 1950 D/S Over mintmark ( coin is a '50-D, with underlying S mintmark ), 1950 S/D Over mintmark ( coin is a '50-S, with underlying D mintmark ), and the 1955 D
The Concept of ?Key? may also apply to the Type or Purpose of the coin collection, rather than the individual coin. For example, if a collector is putting together a collection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars, without regard to the Condition of the coins, then the ?keys? are the 1921, 1921-D, and 1916-S.
But, if the Collector is putting together the same set, in Gem BU Condition, the 1919-D and the 1921-S would be considered the ?keys? and the 1916-S likely would not, because the 1916-S either not available at all, or is plentiful. Also Key Date may be a replaceable term.
Another example, using Lincoln Cents: The "key dates" for the Lincoln Pennies, from 1909 -1958 (wheat cents) are: 1909s, 1909s VDB, 1914 D, 1922, and the 1931 S.
The ?semi-key? dates are: 1910 S, 1911 D, 1911 S, 1912 S, 1913 D, 1913 S, 1914 S, 1915, 1921 S, 1922 D, 1923 S, 1924 D, 1926 S, 1931 D, and 1933 D.
Certain Sellers use the term ?Key Date? to generate interest in a coin, whose date may be ?Key?, however, the Condition of the coin is usually less than desirable. Pay Attention!
Have fun collecting your Perfect Coins!
Robert L Taylor, JD
Copyright ? 2006-7
Robert Taylor is a retired Lawyer with a passion for collecting US coins. To share his Passion, he created http://www.ThePerfect-Coin.Com which features US Coins (from 1960) and http://www.PerfectDollarCoins.Com featuring US Dollars, all certified by NGC, PCGS, ICG and ANACS.
Related Articles:
Coin Collecting: How To Make The Grade
Coin collection is not synonymous with possessing as many coins as possible. What is important is the quality of the coins rather than the quantity of them. The coin?s grade is the yardstick to measure its quality. You can measure the grade by using a scale ranged between 0 to 70 which is the highest point grade. This point scale was introduced by Doctor William Shelby in his work ?Penny Whimsy?. The classifications of coins according to grade are as follows:
New Release of NASA Approved Collectible Space Coin Collection
The National Aeronautics and Space Association has licensed a new, extremely limited line of 10 collectible space coins celebrating the final years of the Hubble Space Telescope called the HST Discovery Coin Series.
Double Eagle Gold Coin
During the time that the Double Eagle Gold Coin was being minted in the USA there have two major versions along with six minor deviations of it produced. The main two versions are the Liberty Head or Coronet which was minted between 1849 and 1907 and the Saint Gaudens which was minted between 1907 and 1933.
Coin Collecting Supply Company "Wizard Coin Supply" Launches New Website
New site will provide a comprehensive catalog of coin collecting supplies and educational resources for coin collectors.
Public Access to US Mint Direct Gold and Silver
There are plenty of places on or off the internet to purchase gold and silver coins but none that will give you a deep discount and send you coins as a commission for bringing in new costumers. That's right; Public Gold does just that and more.
Buying Gold Coin
There are various reasons why a person would choose to start buying gold coins. One reason is they see them as a good investment whilst another person may choose to buy them because they see the way gold actually increases in value. Even today you will find that there is an extremely high demand for people who collect coins to buy those that are rare.
The Coin Collecting Handbook: What You Need To Know
Speaking literally, every coin collector can have all the essential information in the universe from the handbook.
What Makes Gold Coin Investment A Better Option
People are always looking for a safe avenue of investment. The problem with almost all the low risk investment options is that the returns are also rather low. Gold coin investment however can be considered an exception. In most low risk cases, the investment results are not able to match with the levels of inflation and the investor loses money when it comes to the final calculations. On the other hand the price of gold is able to keep up with inflation in most cases.
Starting A Coin Collection
The best place to start collecting would be with pennies, we will focus on the Lincoln Cent for the years 1909 through 1958, which are the Wheat Cents. There are still a number of "wheat cents" showing up in circulation, so it is possible to start a coin collection without spending a great deal of money.
Coin Collection ? The Art Of Numismatics
The first known coin collector was Petrarch, who lived way back in the 15th century. A century later, Hubert Goltz visited a number of coin collectors throughout Europe and estimated that were approximately 960 collections in total. Numismatics gradually became a favorite hobby of royalty. Francis I of Austria wrote about his collection of gold coins in 1756. The British Museum established one of the first coin catalogues. From this have emerged more than 100 publications devoted to coin collecting.
Do you Believe in Luck? Royal Canadian Mint Issues 2008 Lucky Loonie
Royal Canadian Mint is proud to issue the 2008 Lucky Loonie, the latest in its extensive Olympic themed circulation coin program.
Coin Collecting – A Fun Hobby
Over the years, collecting coins has grown from being just a hobby to becoming a full-blown enterprise with numerous Internet sites devoted to coins. Over the next several weeks, I will give you a little background about coin collecting to help those who want to pursue this as a hobby and maybe even make some money in the process.
What Is "Key", When Collecting Coins?
Key Coin: A coin that is among the toughest and Most Expensive to obtain within a series In the Lincoln Cent series, for example, the 1909-S VDB would be considered the key, as would the 1914-D and often the 1922-Plain
State Quarters ? The Easiest Way To Start A Coin Collection
Nothing in recent years has done more to popularize coin collecting than the 50 State Quarter Program Act of 1997. This unique Act runs from 1998 until 2008 is easily the most popular minted coin series in the history of the U.S. Mint.