What is it about key dates and being engraved?

I feel like I see more key dates that are engraved than common dates, is there a logical reason for this?
Also I get so enfuriated when I see a key date that is engraved, the damage haunts me. On the bright side it can be more affordable to a collector.

What brought this up today? Ive been looking for an 89CC for the collection and came across this one. hopefully the carver was born in 1886.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1889cc-Morgan-Silver-Dollar-Cull-With-Birthday-Graffiti-Key-Date/143939665523?hash=item218378fe73:g:0CMAAOSwMa9gGvVF

End of rant

 

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It took a lot of patience to get an honest, but entry level 89cc.

This graffiti job is a pure shame.

 

That coin is just absolutely painful to look at.

 

It wasn't a key date until later. By then the damage was done.

 

I thought it meant 9/25/1886 at first, then I saw it was an 1889... yikes.

 

I'm gonna guess the gouge through trust on the reverse was there prior to the engraving. If it was that worn and had that nasty of a scrape, maybe the hole also whoever had it said "why not its ruined anyways.

 

Let's start with an assumption that the key date coins aren't engraved at a greater rate than the common dates. Later as it is discovered that common dates are just worth melt and the key date is worth a premium even with the engraving, the commons get melted. As time passes, more and more of the commons get melted while the damaged keys continue to survive because they are worth a premium.

 

If you are going to engrave a love token for the love of your life, are you going to

• Grab a skanky well-worn coin

or

• Grab a nice new coin - that happens to be recognized 20 years later as a key date...

 

@Conder101 ahh so survivorship bias. Pretty much engraved keys are saved from the melting pot, while common dates are not. good to know