KEY DATES Part 1 By: Harry Laibstain This is our second installment you see it. Each series has on how to collect rare coins. In Key Dates and I`m going to the first series, I went to great run through some of them lengths to convince collectors/ here. There are too many Key investors that making money in Dates to mention all of them, coins should not be your num- so don`t get upset if I leave 1796 1/2 C With Pole ber one focus. I`ll repeat it here out one of your personal fa- and add that quality trumps vorites. What is appealing any example in any grade that price. You must purchase coins about these coins is they can has decent surfaces is a coin that people will want to own in literally be collected helter- worth owning. Low-grade ex- the future for reasons other skelter, or as type, or by de- amples below Good are out than it is a bargain. There has to nomination. Most type col- there, and with nice surfaces, be enough going for the coin lectors buy the commonest they still cost over 10K. I re- where another knowledgeable issues so they can attain the cently had the good fortune of collector will say, "I`d love to highest grades and still have selling a VF coin in the mid have that coin in my collection." money to feed the family and five figures, and over the These coins inspire competition pay the mortgage. But if you years, I`ve handled several F- and strong prices, whenever of- wanted to cross, type collect- VF coins and a few AU`s. fered. ing with Key Dates, which Look for an F or VF. If you Key Dates are coins in each I`ve seen done on numerous have deep pockets, search for series that are usually the most occasions, you can create a an AU. For some reason this valuable, and often the rar- very interesting set where coin, does not turn up in XF est. They are usually the last every coin is important in its but certainly that would be a coins acquired by a set building own right, a real team of all desirable grade as well. No- collector. Anyone who is well stars! Many sets have more body really knows what these versed in the U. S catalog knows than one Key Date and I cost until they sell, but I think all the Key Dates by heart. could easily get carried away VF is about 50K, XF is proba- These coins have been called but I`m going to list the ones bly starting to push 6 figures the blue chips of rare coins. I would go after and the and nice AU coins could easily Whether they are blue chips or grade I think would be nice be 150K or more. I sold a gor- not, they are certainly always in to have. geous AU coin to a good cus- demand and choice examples Half Cents...though the tomer about 10-12 years ago are even more impressive. Re- first year issues get a lot of and I think the price tag was call, choice, means well above play, my all time favorite is 60K. I suspect he still has it. average for the grade, free of the 1796. This coin comes in Honorable mentions include, problems or blemishes, and an two variations with and with- both 1802 half cents with the absence of mint made imperfec- out pole, the no pole being 1802 reverse of 1800 being tions like weak strikes, planchet the rarer of the two. extremely tough and special- streaks, or cracks and so on. A ized. The more common 2nd coin does not have to be perfect reverse is attainable, and nice to be choice but it has to have VF coins do show up. In addi- the right combination of attrib- tion, a long time favorite is the utes and no big negatives to 1811. I like this coin in XF or qualify. Choice coins don`t AU but if a nice VF shows up, come with a label but as you 1796 1/2 C No Pole grab it. This coin usually has buy better and better quality, problems and sweet ones are you learn to recognize it when I would focus my attention few and far between. on the "with pole" and say... Large Cents, the big boys of which is the undisputed Key of Either coin is well worth own- coppers, are a favorite series for the Indian set. Both coins are ing. Purchase this coin in Proof me. These big brown beautiful attainable in high grades. 56 64 or better. You won`t pay a Cents are almost magical when flyers rarely show up in less huge premium for 65, so if you they are nice. Again, first year than XF, and I would recom- can find a Gem example, buy issues are certainly Keys of mend a choice AU58 or seek a it! Two honorable mentions course but since we talked gem PR64. The 58 should run from this set include the 1864 about them in the first year is- around 12K and the 64 could Small Motto and the 1872, the sue article, I`m going to skip to easily go to 20K, maybe a toughest business strikes. A some of my other favorites. I shade less. Today 1877`s are beautiful 1872 is tough to find, really like both 1799 issues S- more plentiful in circ grades and trades at multiples of bid. 188 and S-189. but mint state examples have A great issue to own! For some virtually disappeared. I would reason, 1877, is one of those seek any mint state example really cool years in numismat- that was attractive and defect ics, and a lot of the coins from free. A choice, sharp XF, or 1877 are important. Therefore, nice AU will run 2500-3750, I will briefly mention that and are always popular with 1877's include Keys in Three 1799 1C S-189 collectors. I heard from a Cent Nickels and Shield friend that Madonna has a Nickels, both being proof The S-188 overdate is a bit 1877 Indian Cent as a keep- only. I would suggest collecting tougher overall and these coins sake. As Small Cents go, I these in 65 and 66. Look for are highly collectible in VG and would also mention the 1909-S good luster and mirrors and a higher. F and VF do show up, VDB and the 1914-D distinct absence of any spots, but beware of problems. Avoid which often plague these is- porous coins and try to look for sues. These come GEM, don`t good centering where the Date accept any less. is Full or nearly so. My other Jumping to V Nickels...there favorite is the 1804, a truly clas- are several Keys that are im- sic coin, available in higher 1909-S VDB 1C portant; 1885, 1886, and 1912- quality and colors than the 1799 S, but the 1885 is the one to and attainable in F- XF. A few The VDB is likely the most buy, if one is all you can do. honorable mentions, the 1821, well known Key coin in the en- and both 1823 issues, look for tire US coin catalog, but the solid VF and better and the final 1914-D is actually scarcer in year of 1857 in 64 or 65. high grade. Next up, Indian Head Cents, which for some curious reason 1885 V NICKEL seem to include flying eagle cents. There are two important For all three issues, exceptional coins here: The 56 flying eagle circ pieces in VF 35/40 and cent, which some believe was better, with full distinct Lib- really a pattern and the 1877 1873 2C CLOSED 3 erty's are tough to find, even Indian Cent, Two Cent pieces are another tougher than mint states. In favorite series for me and it is mint state, I like MS64 and relatively easy to assemble the maybe MS65 but 65`s are entire set. The last year, 1873 is pricey and I like the value for a the "Big Kahoona" and it is a nice 64. These are all difficult proof-only issue. It comes in to acquire with full strikes, 1877 INDIAN CENT two styles, Closed or Opened 3. plan to let a weak star here or there slide, look at the overall coin and its around for a while. 1804 dimes coins for Seated Dime Key Date original flavor. I`d consider are expensive. I like VF coins type sets. Try to buy at least VF collecting this trio. Now that's which can run from 20-35K, in these three issues. an alternative to collecting a V- depending on how nice they nickel set, just get the big three are. Beyond that, the issue gets and get nice ones. The 1796 is the Key Date in really expensive. Years ago, I Half Dimes. bought the much scarcer 14 star variety in XF for a paltry 8K 1894-S 10C and sold it at the same show to a very astute dealer-collector Barber Dimes have a Key Date for 8800. I`m guessing he still that shines above all others, the 1894-S. All but the richest collec- 1796 H10C has it and wouldn`t part with it for 50K! tors can forget about this coin. This is a tough little coin and Last year a 1894-S sold for about Seated Dimes offer many choice examples are one in ten 2 million.