What is the ultimate year of each current coin? By "current" I mean Lincoln pennies, Jefferson nickels, Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, JFK halves, and whatever dollar coins that they're making today. Error coins don't count as they didn't make up a high percentage of the coins that were minted that year. Variations such as the VDB penny don't count as there were only a certain number out of the total number of pennies minted that year with the VDB initials. Rarities such as the 1943 copper cent don't count either. I'm talking about regular production coins. These must be coins that are worth much more over face value, not coins like the bicentennial coins that were pumped out for two years but are not worth over face value. Here's my nominations: Penny: 1943 steel cent Nickel: 1942-45 silver war nickel Dime: Pre-1965 silver dime Quarter: Pre-1965 quarter Half: 1964 (1965-70 are noteworthy as well) Dollar: They're still minting them? As for me, I've found every one of these coins in circulation except for the '64 half. I have found Franklin halves and 40% JFK halves and my mom found a '64 that she gave me, but I have yet to find one in circulation. The rarest dollar coin that I have found was probably a bicentennial Ike.
I'd argue that there are enough VBS and really enough VDB-S to consider them the ultimate penny. Just my thoughts... Really, if you don't include variations, not many of these coins have an extraordinary value, outside of grade. The silver you have listed is basically worth melt plus grade, steel pennies are worth novelty prices unless high grade, etc. I think a lot of people who search current circulating coins (myself included) look for varieties and rarities. If I find a steel cent in circulation, it goes in with the other bulk wheats. If I find a pre-65 coin in circulation, it goes in with my bullion silver.
You ask for the ultimate year but your own list includes but one. Your's are all time periods, and not a specific year. Some even include a large portion of the coin's time in circulation. With the list of your exclusions, the question becomes a little meaningless.
Year, years.....my point stands that, at least to me, these are the most interesting coins of their design. All 1909 pennies weren't VDBs, so that's why I don't count them. (If I did count them, they would be tied with the steel penny.)
I mean the most desirable coin that was made the entire year (or years) to me. The coin to have. Sometimes this is a single year and sometimes it is many different years. None of these coins are common in circulation, and you must look through a lot of change to find any of these. They may be readily available in coin shops, but I'm talking about circulation.
Since you already have a desirable list for yourself, are you asking us what we would pick for ourselves? If so, you have already excluded some of my picks and the others would be redundant. When you say "These must be coins that are worth much more over face value" that can apply to almost any year in extremely high grades. Have you made an inquiry over in the roll searchers forum? They're going through circulation coinage all the time. I'm not sure if they can add much either, but if this is important to you, it's worth the try.
Not all regular issue (non-error) 1942 Jefferson nickels were made in the silver war-time composition. Roughly 40% of the mintage for the date was made in the traditional nickel-copper composition, yet you still have 1942-1945 listed for Jefferson nickels. Regardless, I am having a very tough time understanding the point of this thread.
I'll go with 2009 P & D nickels. I've still not found a single one in circulation. The 2009 P & D dimes are a close second. I'm also not finding many of the ATB quarters in circulation. It makes my day when I find one.
I live in the DC area and find ATB quarters somewhat regularly. When I see a good specimen, it goes in air-tite.
The purpose of this thread was to get opinions of which year(s) of coins were most collectable to you. I didn't get a single response giving an opinion. I shouldn't have even bothered to post this thread. but I had no idea it would get the response it did.
