If Teddy Kennedy is on the obverse then would the reverse have a design of the bridge on Chappaquiddick?:devil:
Yep, what the newbe conditional rarity guys are missing is the number one factor for a key – low mintage. Now, once you have a low mintage key, let’s talk condition rarity. Even with the satins, 69’s aren’t all that common and I don’t know, are there 70’s? If/when there’s a run on satins, like there was on the 1931-s, well most satin mintages are lower than the 1931-s. Like I said earlier, I don’t get excited over high mintage, high grade coins, they are what used to be in TPG’ers sample slabs and I can find a nice example from a roll or mint set. But, hey, you conditional rarity guys may be right, but I’ll stick with the highest grade low mintage coins, I believe are priced reasonably that I can afford.
I think many people might be putting too much emphasis on a term like "conditional rarity". Sure a 1982-P quarter could hardly be more common in VF. There are still hundreds of millions in circulation and even a few XF's and AU's but try finding a 1969 quarter in VF. In fact try finding any nicely made 1969 quarter above F condition. There are a couple million in circulation that no one is looking for because they're too smart and there are a few still in mint sets but no one ever noticed that most of the mint set quarters looked like junk the day they were made and now they're corroded. Nice attractive MS-63 and better coins are already somewhat elusive and that's with almost nobody at all collecting them. What would happen if millions of people decided they wanted a collection of all the quarters in circulation instead of only the post-'98 issues? It hardly stops here though since there are countless varieties that are rare in grades over VF and none too common even in worn out condition. Each year that goes by there are fewer and fewer of the old coins and those left are in worse and worse condition. It's not that there is a large supply that makes the price so low, it's the fact that there is no demand at all. For many years you couldn't give a 1954 Indian proof set away. They'd sit in dealer inventory until he got tired of them and cut them up to sell by the pound. They were never common just shunned because they were base metal modern junk. Now they are worth $2,750. Everyone tells me to sell but I know how tough these are. I've found a few singles in junk boxes and have only a single set. Why sell? The banks pay .015% interest and this thing increases about 1000% annually. Our economy continues under pressure due to lack of competition and government activities while the Indian economy continues to grow. US moderns will have their day someday. It might be many years from now but, I believe, it's already at least three decades overdue. Maybe when things recover people will begin to wake up to how tough most of these coins really are if you want a complete collection in nice attractive condition.
I believe the "sweet spot" for moderns will be nice attractive "near-Gem" condition. This means nice attractive MS-64 and higher. "Easy" dates in nice Gem or even choice Gem with tougher dates in near-Gem. The highest grades might do well but finding these is so difficult they might not be worth the effort. Some of the encapsulated coins are overgraded. People should collect coins and not speculate in them.
What about the 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar with Reverse of 1999...aka the "Cheerios Dollar?" If anything is a modern key, that would be. http://www.smalldollars.com/dollar/page20c.html
I must respectfully disagree, the “sweet spot” for Kennedy half dollar business strikes is MS66 leaning towards MS67. MS64 coins, weather attractive or not is no challenge. For proofs, the “sweet spot” is PR69DCAM leaning towards PR70DCAM. Grades on “encapsulated coins” are just opinions of the grading companies, yes some are over-graded and others are under-graded with the majority being accurate. On higher end coins, I think the grading companies “error” on the side of caution and under – grade the coin to hedge their exposure to “buy backs”. Bottom line, the collector should build his/her collection the way they want too. I know one collector that if he can’t see any wear on the coin then he is not interested in it. Getting back to the OP, “Modern Key Coins”, each series will have a “Key” or “Semi – Key” coins. Now what is the definition of “Key” and “Semi – Key”? To me, “Key” and “Semi – Key” means a combination of things: a. Rarity (overall mintage and survivability) b. Condition rarity c. Desirability
thanks for chiming in on this- I always enjoy your posts and get a lot out of them. Let us know when you write a book- I will be the first in line to buy it.
Yes. I agree. Cent and half dollar sweet spots are higher than the other clads and nickels. There are more of these and nicer coins were saved. Look for nice clean shields on the reverse of the halfs. Cents should be well struck especially on the steps and the memorial. Earlier cents are mostly MS-66 and later are MS-68 in the sweet spot. Most nice Ikes are keepers. Nickels with fewer than two major problems are keepers and well struck coins without marking on both sides are rare. I kind of like really high grade nickels since there are no common dates at all for these. Indeed, almost every date is fairly scarce.
It's a 1954 proof set from India. Many world moderns have been simply exploding in price. No, it's not because demand is exploding but rather for the first time there is a little demand and people are discovering there's almost no supply. It's a growing phenomenon that's starting in countries with strong economies. There was only a tiny middle class in India until recent times but now it is growing in leaps and bounds. People are looking for some of the coins they remember from childhood and in many cases they just don't exist any longer except in tiny quantities because no one saw any reason to save aluminum and cu/ ni coinage.
I think that someone out to put these ideas in one posting so we can thrash out the proposed iders rather than in piecemeal.
these are all just quotes from posts: -The obvious are the 1982 and 1983 coins -I don't know if you could call the 2009 nickel and dime "key" coins, but they were only minted until April of their year. -Much of the circulating 2009- and 2010-dated coinage have low mintages, nickels, dimes, both territorial and 2010-ATB quarters. The 2011 and 2012 America the Beautiful quarters continue being minted in very low numbers -1995 W SAE -2008 gold buff $50 pr unc -1970 kennedy half 1972 Ike Dollar Type 2 1979 Wide Rim SBA -1972 type 2 Ike -Let's not forget the 1987 P&D Kennedy which was only released in the Mint Set. Some collectors might also consider the 1998-S Kennedy a key date since it was only struck for the 2-coin set with the Bobby Kennedy dollar. -1994 SP Jefferson -what about the 96 w dime, -the 2000P Cheerioes Sac is a rare variety. Estimated that 5000k made, but less than 100 certified. -For full step Jeff's 1964d 1968s (business strike) 1949 But the list could get very long -If you want a challenge, try to find an MS example of a full-torch Roosevelt dime from Denver or Philly for the year 1980. -Not US unfortunately, but nice. My modern key date from South Africa is a very rare circulated 2004 Bi-metallic 5 rand coin with a mintage of only 1,935. -I'm a big fan of nice attractive 1969 quarters. -I would consider 1970s small date cent a key. -2011-S Unc ASE, 2011-P Rev PF ASE, 1994 proof ASE, 1996 bullion ASE -Also, for commemoratives, the '96 Olympic series has some keys and semi-keys: Halves- 1996 Soccer Half Pf and Unc, 1996 Swimming Half Unc; Dollars- 1995-D Cycling Dollar Unc, 1996-D Tennis Dollar Unc, 1996-D Paralympics Dollar Unc, 1996-D Rowing Dollar Unc, 1996-D High Jump Dollar Unc ... Also I think the one of the 1995 Civil War coins is at least a semi-key. ok- I may do the rest later
With the Kennedy half dollar series, there is no what you call “Key” coins; they are all readily available in uncirculated or proof condition. Now if you are talking “Semi Key” within the Kennedy series, I would put on the list: (NOTE: All of these coins accept the 1970-D, 1987-P, 1987-D and the 1998-S Mattie should be available in the top grade from PCGS for under $200 each.) 1. 1970-D only issued in mint sets, 2,150,000 2. 1987-P only issued in mint sets, 2,890,758 3. 1987-D only issued in mint sets, 2,890,758 4. 1993-S Silver Proof, 761,343 5. 1994-S Silver Proof, 785,329 6. 1995-S Silver Proof, 838,953 7. 1996-S Silver Proof, 830,021 8. 1997-S Silver Proof, 821,689 9. 1998-S Silver Mattie, 62,350 10. 1998-S Silver Proof, 878,792 11. 2008-S Silver Proof, 620,684 Now if you are talking “Conditional Rarity” within the Kennedy series, say PCGS MS67 or better then I would have on the list: (NOTE: If you can find one of these coins for sale in PCGS MS67 or better holders, the cost will be between $2,000 - $18,000) 1. All 40% silver “business strikes” from 1965 – 1970-D 2. 1971-P 3. 1974 4. 1982-P 5. 1984-D
Some well known modern varities are 1992-d close AM cent, 1995 double die cent , 2004 wisconsin quarter high leaf and low leaf variety, 1993-2000 wide AM cents and many more well known ones.
