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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lehigh96, post: 440741, member: 15309&quot;]The purpose of this thread is to determine which year in the US Mint&#039;s history is the most important to Numismatics.&nbsp; I have chosen 6 different years and will list the coins produced along with a photograph to provide a visual representation of the Mint&#039;s production.&nbsp; I will then briefly give some reasons why that year should be considered.&nbsp; Please review each year and cast your vote for the year you think was most important to coin collectors.&nbsp; All images are courtesy of Polaris and Heritage.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><u><font size="5"><span style="color: Blue">1795 (Flowing Hair Era)</span></font></u></p> <p style="text-align: center"><u><br /></u></p><p><br /></p><p>While some might criticize the choice to skip the first two years of official mint production, 1793 &amp; 1794 simply did not offer enough coins to be competitive with the other dates.&nbsp; The Liberty Cap and Flowing Hair designs ruled the year with coins issued in the following denominations:&nbsp; Half Cent, Cent, Half Dime, Half Dollar, Dollar, Half Eagle &amp; Eagle.&nbsp; Although these coins are not incredibly attractive with the exception of the gold pieces, they represent the beginning of the US Mints production efforts during a very difficult time for a fledgling government.&nbsp; These coins are exceedingly rare in mint state and are extremely expensive in all grades.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1795Type.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font size="5"><u><span style="color: Blue">1804 (Draped Bust Era)</span></u></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This year&#039;s reason for inclusion should be obvious, despite the fact that the 1804 Silver Dollars were actually minted in 1834 &amp; 1859 (restrikes).&nbsp; This year provides collectors with the much more attractive Draped Bust coinage along with the gorgeous Capped Bust Gold pieces.&nbsp; Denominations minted in 1804 include:&nbsp; Half Cent, Cent, Dime, Quarter, Quarter Eagle, Half Eagle, and Eagle.&nbsp; The coins are striking and very expensive with the exception of the Half Cent which is still affordable.&nbsp; The 1804 Dollar needs no introduction or comment on my behalf.&nbsp; It is the King of US Coins and a vote for this year would certainly confirm it&#039;s importance in Numismatic history.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1804Type.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"> <font size="5"><u><span style="color: Blue">1836 (Capped Bust Era)</span></u></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font size="5"><u><br /></u></font></p><p><br /></p><p>This year marked the return of the silver Dollar with the Gobrecht Dollar which is undoubtedly a numismatic treasure (photo is of restrike).&nbsp; The Capped Bust design is one of the most celebrated and collected designs and this year also saw the Reeded Edge Variety for the Half Dollar.&nbsp; If that is not enough, it also saw production of the Classic Head design for the Half Cent and gold pieces.&nbsp; Denominations produced in 1836 inlcude:&nbsp; Half Cent (proof only), Cent, Half Dime, Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar, Dollar, Quarter Eagle, and Half Eagle.&nbsp; Despite their age, the 1836 coins are relatively affordable in mint state with the expection of the rarities:&nbsp; proof Half Cent, Reeded Edge CBH, and the Gobrecht Dollar.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1836Type.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><u><font size="5"><span style="color: Blue">1879 (Seated Liberty/Morgan Era)</span></font></u></p> <p style="text-align: center"><u><font size="5"><span style="color: Blue"><br /></span></font></u></p> <p style="text-align: center"><u><font size="5"><span style="color: Blue"></span></font></u><p style="text-align: left">The Seated Liberty design is one of the least flattering depictions of lady liberty only rivaled by the Barber design.&nbsp; However, 1879 was the second year of production of the Morgan Dollar which is one of the most collected coins in US History.&nbsp; For those that don&#039;t like the Morgan design, you still have the very impressive Trade Dollar minted in 1879 as well.&nbsp; The mint had abondoned the Half Cent and Half Dime by 1879, but almost every other denomination was accounted for including:&nbsp; Cent, Three Cent, Nickel, Dime, Quarter, Half Dollar, Dollar (2), Gold Dollar, Quarter Eagle, $3 &amp; $4 Gold, Half Eagle, Eagle, &amp; Double Eagle.&nbsp; The minor coinage designs were not particularly fantastic with the exception of the Indian Head Cent.&nbsp; The Dime through Half Dollar still bore the seated Liberty design and the gold saw the Indian Princess &amp; Liberty Head design.&nbsp; The crowning achievement of the year was the $4 gold Stella.&nbsp; While technically a pattern, the Stella is a very important Numismatic piece as it&#039;s price tag confirms.&nbsp; I added the Washlady pattern in this year as well because, well it is my favorite pattern, and it is my thread<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most of the coins from 1879 are very affordable.</p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1879Type.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"> <span style="color: Blue"><u><font size="5">1916 (Beautiful and plentiful)</font></u></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: Blue"><br /></span></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left">There is no doubt that 1916 belongs on this list.&nbsp; For starters, lets look a the number of coins minted:&nbsp; Cent, Nickel, Dime (2), Quarter (2), Half Dollar, Quarter Eagle, Half Eagle, Eagle, Double Eagle, and a Commemorative.&nbsp; Now consider that 1916 saw the best aesthetic design for the Nickel (Buffalo), Dime (Mercury), Quarter (Standing Liberty), Half Dollar (Walking Liberty), Eagle (Indian), and Double Eagle (Saint Gaudens).&nbsp; If you like beautiful designs on your coins, you simply have no other choice than to vote for 1916.&nbsp; If you like ugly designs, you might still choose 1916 since two Barbers were also issued in this year.&nbsp; In addition, 1916 provided numismatists with two of the monster key date coins for the 20th century, the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter and the 1916-D Mercury Dime.&nbsp; Add in the Mckinley Gold Commemorative and this year is becomes a true force despite the absence of a Silver Dollar.</p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1916Type.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font size="5"><u><span style="color: Blue">1936 (Proof Sets &amp; Commemoratives)</span></u></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font size="5"><u><br /></u></font></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left">Before everyone thinks, what is this year doing on the list, consider the following.&nbsp; This year marked the start of the proof set and a 1936 proof set is not cheap.&nbsp; In fact, I cringe to think how much the one in the photo would cost.&nbsp; Otherwise, 1936 was a rather generic year with no key dates, no Silver Dollar, and no gold produced.&nbsp; The mint produced a cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and Half Dollar.&nbsp; So what made 1936 special?&nbsp; Commemorative Half Dollars, a lot of them.&nbsp; Nineteen different Commemorative half Dollars were produced in 1936.&nbsp; They are Albany, Arkansas, Bay Bridge, Boone, Bridgeport, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia, Delaware, Gettysburg, Long Island, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Rhode island, Robinson, San Diego, Texas, Wisconsin, York.&nbsp; Now that is a boat load of coins.</p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1936ProofSet.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Very%20Good%20Year/1936Commemoratives.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left">OK, time to cast your vote.</p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: left"><br /></p> </p><p>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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