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Coin Collector Basics - Key Dates & Conditions

Morgan Dollars - Key Dates, Mints & Conditions

What are Key Dates and Mints for a coin Series?

The key dates and mints refers to coins that a harder to find than other dates(actually, combinations of dates and mints) for a coin series. MintState ranks a key date for a coin at the grade levels from Poor (01) to Almost Good(03) as based on our estimated FMV pricing data.

Top Key Date/Mint w/o Variety
RankYearMintDsgnVarietyFMV AG03
11893SMS1,700
21894(P)MS470
31889CCMS405
41885CCMS355
51903OMS215
61881CCMS210
71895SMS170
81893CCMS150
91895OMS145
101879CCMS110

No year / mint varieties have been included.

Top Key Date/Mint w/Varieties
RankYearMintDsgnVarietyFMV AG03
11893SMS1,700
21894(P)MS470
31889CCMS405
41885CCMS355
51903OMS215
61881CCMS210
71895SMS170
81893CCMS150
91895OMS145
101880CCMS:R78140

All common varieties have been included. (Some series may not have listed varieties.)

What are Key Conditions for a coin series?

The key condition refers to dates and mints of coins that may be common (easy to find) in their lower grade conditions, but in higher grades they are rarer (harder to find) compared to other dates of the same condition. MintState ranks key conditions at the grade levels from MS60 to MS67 based on the coin series on our estimated FMV pricing data.

Top Key Condition w/o Variety
RankYearMintDsgnVarietyFMV MS60
11893SMS125,000
21892SMSPL40,500
31892SMS40,000
41889CCMSPLDM26,000
51889CCMSPL23,500
61889CCMS20,500
71895OMSPLDM18,500
81884SMSPLDM17,000
91895OMSPL15,000
101895OMS13,000

No year/mint varieties have been included.

Top Key Condition w/Varieties
RankYearMintDsgnVarietyFMV MS60
11893SMS125,000
21903SMS:MicroS41,000
31892SMSPL40,500
41892SMS40,000
51889CCMSPLDM26,000
61889CCMSPL23,500
71889CCMS20,500
81895OMSPLDM18,500
91901(P)MS:DDR18,000
101884SMSPLDM17,000

All common varieties have been included. (Some series may not have listed varieties.)

Is this information available for other coin series?

The key dates and conditions listings where generated using the MintState Coin Value Application. This application is a FREE web based application for all users (no registration required). It has been specifically designed to work on all desktop, tablet and mobile screen resolutions.

Below is the general information for the Coin Value Application.

The Coin Value Application assists users in estimating the Fair Market Value (FMV) of their coin. These estimated values have been formulated using averages from many sources. The values are calculated to estimate a price that is between an average dealer's asking price (retail) and their purchasing price (wholesale). The variance for grade certification is averaged into the FMV calculations.

The application allows the user to specify a coins Denomination and Series and then it generates FMV estimates by year, mint, designation, variety for common grades. Additional filtering and sorting options are available to modify the coins displayed and their order. These options are useful to determine key coin dates and conditions for the selected series.

Disclaimer

The pricing information displayed is based on estimated values compiled from many independent sources. All information from this site carries no warranty, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy, completeness or availability. Any reliance you place on this information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Using information obtained from this site is subject to the site's Terms of Use Agreement.

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  •  May 1, 2020
  •  Keys, Basics, Keys

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Comments

larry1081

I appreciate you and all others who made this possible. We, as collectors as well as investors needed this program you have put together. This made it a all new ball ball game. This really explains much for my self. I can put all info to really good usage. Thanks to all. Mr. Edwards

jonathan1582

This site has been very insightful and I thank you for allowing all to have access to this knowledge base. Mahalo, Jonathan

W.C.2129

Hey way to go! This is a GREAT site for all of us coin folks...Good to see someone is doing something to help our community out. Keep up the good work?-Bill, Certified Coin Geek

Leslie 1554

I really enjoy this site, I have been a frequent visitor since it began. Awesome work and a simple way to get fair assessment!!

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