What's the true and correct term for Key Series notes? In referencing short run star notes....if there is more then 1 short run star run (640k or smaller) from multiple districts in any series year then none of which will be considered "key series" correct?? As of date there's 3 $1 2009 (640k or smaller) runs of the San Francisco 640k....Dallas 640k and Saint Louis 320k Districts. If no more are printed from these districts these won't be considered key series? It has to be like the $1 2006 Cleveland to be considered key series?? Or am i confusing the them all together as far as key series is concerned?
A key note or key series is pretty loosely defined. It is the hardest to find note/type/block of a set. Depending on the set, the key series may be the same or it may be different. It depends on how the collector builds the set. The key series to a $1 silver certificate type set may be the 1928-E. But if the collector considers stars, mules, experimental notes and blocks, there are harder to find notes. I think a general answer is appropriate: the key note (or key series) is the scarcest note for any given set. It's hard to gauge scarcity by production numbers, however. Lowest production doesn't necessarily mean rarity. It also depends on the amount of notes physically released into circulation, redemption rates, and other socio-economic conditions that affected the survival.
