5 Very Valuable Key Date Coins
Posted on — 3 CommentsDo you own any key date coins? If you do, you understand the feeling of triumph, pride and excitement of adding a key date coin to your collection. Key date coins are those with a low mintage or with mintages having few survivors, and they are prized in the world of numismatics.
The performance returns of key date coins have historically outpaced gold bullion and other rare coin markets. It comes down to supply and demand. Key date coins are one of the scarcest markets in all of tangible assets. At the same time, they offer all of the intrinsic benefits of gold. While key date gold coins are more expensive than common date rare coins, their excellent historical performance has more than justified the purchase price for countless numismatic investors.
Let’s dive in and explore five of the “rarest of the rare” key date coins in the numismatic world.
1907 $10 Rolled Edge Indian Head
The United States Mint struck Indian Head Eagles — a $10 gold piece — regularly from 1907 until 1916, and then irregularly until 1933. However, numismatists covet the 1907 $10 Rolled Edge key date of this spectacular series.
The obverse and reverse were designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, considered by many to be the greatest modern sculptor known today.
The Rolled Edge variety was actually struck in rather large quantities for circulation, but they were melted before ever being released to the public. The surviving examples are mostly high quality and were either saved as assay pieces or obtained directly from the Mint prior to the decision to melt the issue.
Experts believe that a mere 40 to 45 specimens exist today. Owning one of these coins would be a treasured highlight for any numismatic’s’ collection.
1861-S Paquet $20 Liberty Head
The 1861-S Paquet $20 Liberty Head coin exists today because of slow communication between Philadelphia and San Francisco that year. As the story goes, Anthony C. Paquet, assistant U.S. Mint engraver made a new design for the $20 Coronet Liberty Double Eagles. However, it was determined that his new design (tall lettering and a very narrow rim) wouldn’t wear well.
A telegraph was sent to the San Francisco Mint ordering a return to the James Barton Longacre style. Apparently, the telegraph was not transmitted quickly.
By the time the news reached the San Francisco mint, $385,000 worth of the new reverse 1861-S Double Eagles had been struck and released into circulation!
The 1861-S Paquet key date is truly the rarest Liberty Head Double Eagle produced by the San Francisco Mint. It would indeed be an incredible achievement to add one of these coins to your collection.
1889-CC Morgan Dollar
This key date coin can in part be attributed to the presidency of Democrat Grover Cleveland. President Cleveland strongly opposed the coinage of silver dollars, and in 1885 the Carson City Mint was closed for coinage operations.
The Carson City Mint received a new lease on life with the election of Republican Benjamin Harrison as president at the end of 1888. When the Mint reopened in the third quarter of 1889, crews had to clean the offices and machinery before production could begin. As a result, the Mint only had time to produce 350,000 coins in 1889, and all of these coins came out in the last three months of the year. The 1889-CC Morgan dollar was one of the lower mintage issues of the entire series.
To make these coins even scarcer, an estimated 250,000 to 325,000 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollars were melted — for reasons that are unclear today. While the mystery remains, that ensured the 1889-CC Morgan is a key date for any Morgan Dollar collector.
1916-D Winged Liberty Dime
Commonly known as the Mercury dime, the Winged Liberty Head dime is one of the most popular U.S. coins in numismatic history. How shall we put it? The dime was not one of the Denver Mint’s priority denominations — and so begins the story of how this key date coin emerged.
In late November 1916, the Denver Mint received a large rush order for 4,000,000 Barber quarters. In order to meet that order, the Denver Mint immediately halted the production of dimes. At that time, only 264,000 Mercury dimes had been struck.
Thus, a legendary key date issue was born. These few coins were primarily distributed in Montana and the Upper Midwest that November. At that time, there were not many active coin collectors in that geographic region, which meant most survivors saw extensive circulation before they were found by numismatics.
The very significant 1916-D Mercury Dime specimen is highly sought after and would be a standout achievement for any investor to add to their personal collection.
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar
The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar boasts one of the lowest mintages of any coin struck for circulation during the 20th century.
The 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter is the first issue in the series. These coins were not produced until the last two weeks of 1916 and were released in January 1917. The mintage is extremely low — only 52,000 coins, making this issue the lowest mintage by far in the Standing Liberty Quarter and the key date.
Today? It is estimated that only 500 specimens remain in grade 60 or higher, with a mere 50 in grades 65 or better.
The Bottom Line
Key dates are often a focus for advanced rare coin investors. They seldom surface in the marketplace and when they do, they don’t stay on offer for long. Demand is always strong for these legendary key date coins.
Do you have a key date coin? Are you looking for a key date coin? Contact the numismatic experts at Blanchard!
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3 thoughts on “5 Very Valuable Key Date Coins”
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I have a standing Liberty Quarter Dollar and I have two winged Liberty Dimes 45 and 42 can’t tell what mint I also have a series 1935 G 0ne dollar bill and about 200 pennies under 1939 1 large cent between 1816 -1839 and 31 Buffalo head nickels starting at 1929
Is it was a top 10 the 1916 S walking liberty should be on it imo even with a very low grade of G4 its worth around 250-300$
You’re right in that there are so many amazing coins out there that could be included. We’ll see about adding to this article in the future. Thanks!