So I want to do a type set for the year 1921 or 1922. I want all denominations. What would this include?
For US Coins cent, nickel, dime, quarter and half dollar. Then either 1 or 3 commemoratives. A gold double eagle...those are the ones I come up with looking at a red book...
Yeah, sorry I don’t have my Red Book on me because I am on vacation. I wanted a year with more gold though.
I would start with the business strikes and then include proofs if there are any. And I would buy the highest grades I could reasonably afford.
1921 would be a fun set to build but in higher grades, some of the coins will be pricey. It's interesting how many tough coins were made that year.
Do you mean 1921 and 1922, or do you mean you're trying to decide which year to do? Starting from the top: $20 gold -- available for both years, but the 1921 is a five-figure coin even in the lowest grades, and six figures in MS. 1922 is common. $10, $5, $2.50 gold -- neither year $1 gold -- 1922 had the Grant $1 in two major varieties (with and without star), 1921 had none $1 silver -- 1921 had the last Morgans and the first Peace, with the Peace in high relief; 1922 had the Peace in low relief, but there are a few high-relief specimens known if you're very (financially) ambitious 50 cent (Walker) -- in 1921, all three mints, with S semi-key and P and D key dates; none in 1922 50 cent (commemorative) -- in 1921, Alabama, Missouri, and Pilgrim, the first two each having two major varieties; in 1922, Grant, again in two varieties, and the with-star variety is quite scarce 25 cent -- 1921 only 10 cent -- 1921 only, semi-key from either P or D mint 5 cent -- 1921 only; S is a key 1 cent -- 1921 and 1922, 1922 has the "no D" variety if you want to show off Unless you go all out on commems, either year will be skimpy. As a kid, I thought of year sets as non-gold circulating coinage only, and was always a bit sad for the folks born in 1922 who'd have only a cent and a dollar for their birth year.
Great answer, Jeff! The thing about 1921 is that it’s an almost magical year where nearly every circulation strike coin, with the exception of the Cent is either key or semi-key. The thought of putting together a 1921 set has always appealed to me, but been far beyond my resources. BTW- My father was born in 1931. He always complained about the lack of coinage from that year.
Low mintages on the 1921 minor silver coinage due to quantity of silver used in the 21 Morgan's and Peace dollars. The mints priority was dollars from what I have read, due to low amount available, since not minted between 1905 to 1920.
It was several factors, actually. The lack of minor coinage for 1921-22 was largely due to a recession after WWI and very little demand for new coin.
Thank you! I am rethinking and because of the 1921 $20 gold key I would go with 1922. I would go with an affordable year that has the pre33 gold, Peace dollar, Walker, SLQ, Buffalo Nickel, Merc, and Wheat. What would be the most affordable year with those coins?
That's a better constraint. Not sure if it can be satisfied, but it makes it easier to focus. Walkers and SLQs started in 1916 (effectively 1917, as 1916 SLQs aren't affordable). Peace dollars run from 1921-1928; we can leave off 1934 and 1935, as there's no gold for those years. Cents were struck in each of those years, so they won't narrow us down. No Walkers in 1922 or 1924-26. No SLQs in 1922, and 1921 is an expensive date. No dimes or nickels in 1922, either. Quarter eagles are only available for 1925-1929. Half eagles were only made in 1929, and they're super-expensive, so they're off the list. (Not such a big deal, as the quarter-eagle design is the same.) The only affordable eagle from that range is 1926. Double eagles are available for each date in the range, but 1921 and 1929-1930 are unaffordable. So, it looks like you can pick 1926 and leave off the Walker, or 1927 and leave off the eagle. Anything else would leave off more coins and/or be prohibitively expensive. Everybody check my work...
Sweet! 1927 might be the year I go for. When I get back from vacation I will break my Redbook out and research. I’ll cross reference with price guides and auction sites to see what is affordable.
Given that you want all those types, I'd be tempted to do it as a "post-WWI" type set, rather than strictly one year. I'd hate to give up either the eagle or the Walker. That would also let me pick up both Type I and Type II SLQ varieties, and get an affordable half-eagle. Plenty of fun to be had, though, regardless of which strategy you end up with!
I was just thinking of not limiting the year and getting a type I can afford. I have only been collecting three years and I have put all my efforts into Morgans and Ikes. I want to branch out to all the denominations.
My dad was 1916. An expensive year because so many coins changed mid year. You are looking at two sets of coins. I did give him a year set once. And a gold piece. When I gave him the year set, he told me the Chiefs name who is on the Buffalo Nickel. And that he actually met him. We are all living history.
Plus the mint was recoining all the loaned silver that had been returned from GB. There wasn't any demand for 86+ Million Morgans and 1+ Million 1921 Peace Dollars and 84+ Million 1922 Peaces.
I like 1921 for having TWO silver dollars. The iconic Morgan, and the beautiful Peace. Plus, the 1921 High Relief is a gorgeous one year coin available in high grades affordably. Although I believe the Mercury for that year is a key date. Yet again, within reach.