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<p>[QUOTE="Tom B, post: 1780720, member: 11854"]I would have to disagree to an extent with those who believe that key dates are overpriced as long as we can define what "key date" means. </p><p> </p><p>In my opinion, there are two kinds of key dates; those that can be found by looking at mintage numbers in the <i>Red Book </i> and those that are uncovered through time and effort spent studying a series. These might be better thought of as "mintage key dates" and "survivorship key dates". Sometimes these two lists overlap while in other instances they are quite different.</p><p> </p><p>If you want a mintage key date simply buy a <i>Red Book, </i> look at the mintages and buy the coins. Typical examples would be the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1932-D Washington quarter. Oftentimes, these key dates are available in quantity or at least within each major auction and/or on the bourse floor at larger shows. They are not that hard to find in many grade ranges, but have attracted a popular, almost cult-like following over time. These coins have paid off well for many over the years and they attract series collectors and key date collectors. Both collector bases are completely valid pools of buyers and one should not be discounted more than the other. Remember, the dynamic of supply vs. demand will dictate price.</p><p> </p><p>However, if you are looking for a survivorship key date then the <i>Red Book </i> is not quite so informative. In these instances one must have knowledge of the series of interest. In my experience, these coins can be <i>far tougher </i> to find than their better known mintage key date brethren and when they are found they might require funds far in excess of printed guides in order to obtain them, but I have also found that they are liquid as all get out at very aggressive prices. In my experience over the last two decades, survivorship key dates have treated me far more kindly than mintage key dates with respect to return on investment. The problem with these, though, is that one must <i>find them first. </i> That is often not a trivial task.</p><p> </p><p>Please keep in mind that in both instances I am writing about problem-free coins with good eye appeal that are accurately graded and that are not low grade culls or superb MS examples. Rather, I am writing about those coins that populate the vast grading range from VF through AU.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Tom B, post: 1780720, member: 11854"]I would have to disagree to an extent with those who believe that key dates are overpriced as long as we can define what "key date" means. In my opinion, there are two kinds of key dates; those that can be found by looking at mintage numbers in the [I]Red Book [/I] and those that are uncovered through time and effort spent studying a series. These might be better thought of as "mintage key dates" and "survivorship key dates". Sometimes these two lists overlap while in other instances they are quite different. If you want a mintage key date simply buy a [I]Red Book, [/I] look at the mintages and buy the coins. Typical examples would be the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent or 1932-D Washington quarter. Oftentimes, these key dates are available in quantity or at least within each major auction and/or on the bourse floor at larger shows. They are not that hard to find in many grade ranges, but have attracted a popular, almost cult-like following over time. These coins have paid off well for many over the years and they attract series collectors and key date collectors. Both collector bases are completely valid pools of buyers and one should not be discounted more than the other. Remember, the dynamic of supply vs. demand will dictate price. However, if you are looking for a survivorship key date then the [I]Red Book [/I] is not quite so informative. In these instances one must have knowledge of the series of interest. In my experience, these coins can be [I]far tougher [/I] to find than their better known mintage key date brethren and when they are found they might require funds far in excess of printed guides in order to obtain them, but I have also found that they are liquid as all get out at very aggressive prices. In my experience over the last two decades, survivorship key dates have treated me far more kindly than mintage key dates with respect to return on investment. The problem with these, though, is that one must [I]find them first. [/I] That is often not a trivial task. Please keep in mind that in both instances I am writing about problem-free coins with good eye appeal that are accurately graded and that are not low grade culls or superb MS examples. Rather, I am writing about those coins that populate the vast grading range from VF through AU.[/QUOTE]
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thinking about buying a random key date
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