With collectibles having matured into an alternative asset class, coin collecting and numismatics has a feature role. Many coin (and paper money) collectors have also become numismatic investors at a time when other alternative asset investors may simply be looking for returns beyond investing in stocks and bonds.

Collectors Dashboard has taken note that many alternative asset investors may not understand the value that there are key-date coins that every numismatics collector and numismatics investor need to know. These key-date coins are of course not the only examples out there. And key-date coins frequently do not fit within many terms of being “affordable” nor “cheap.”

These 5 key-date coins should make any collector excited and every investor who purchases coins needs to understand these coins and their values for a benchmarking and comparison against any purchase.

The 1938 D walking Liberty half dollar is counted by PCGS as the third lowest mintage of the entire Walking Liberty half dollar series — with 491,000 counted. Displayable circulated examples can be had for under $80 and the prices go up from there. Here are examples sold through eBay:

• 1938-D Denver Mint Silver Walking Liberty Half sold on August 19, 2021 for $56.55 after 12 bids.
• KEY DATE – 1938-D Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar sold for $57.78 on August 18, 2021 after 19 bids.
• 1938-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar, Choice XF++/AU Key Date sold for $96.95 on August 17, 2021 after 21 bids.
• 1938-D Denver Mint Silver Walking Liberty Half (with visible damage) sold on August for $29.00 after 17 bids.
• 1938-D GEM BU Walking Liberty Half-Dollar fresh from original roll sold on July 11, 2021 for $1,405.00 after 37 bids.

A 1914 D Lincoln cent price guide listed it in PCGS G-4 for $160.00 and jumped to $235.00 in May 2021. Mint State examples at the time were all under $10,000. This range is still obtainable for investors and collectors alike in August 2021. Here are some fresh prices realized in eBay auctions:

• NGC MS-65 BN 1914-D Lincoln Cent, Key-Date Specimen! Sold on June 6, 2021 for $4,932.00 after 31 bids.
• 1914-D 1c. Lincoln Wheat Cent PCGS Uncirculated Details – Cleaned. Sold for $1,736.20 on August 8, 2021 after 5 bids.
• 1914-D Lincoln Cent Wheat Penny, Avidly Pursued Key Date, Sold for $645.00 on August 19, 2021 after 46 bids.
• 1914 D Lincoln cent PCGS VG sold for $165.21 on August 19, 2021 after 16 bids.
• 1914-D LINCOLN CENT NGC GOOD BENT *RARE KEY DATE* sold for $82.01 on August 16, 2021 after 30 bids.

The 1950 D Brilliant Uncirculated Jefferson Nickel can still be found for under $20 each and with a mintage of 2,630,030 it stands out for years on either side of it. Mintages signal that there is value to be found and this one is a modern era must. Here are recent sales of the coin from eBay records:

• Jefferson Nickle 1950 D listed as mint condition without holder or certification sold for $6.50 on August 19, 2021 after 4 bids.
• 1950 – D Jefferson Nickel Five Cent UNC – 182274S sold for $16.50 on August 18, 2021 after 11 bids.
• 21 – 1950 D Jefferson Nickel PCGS MS66 sold for $411.20 on June 10, 2021 after 6 bids.
• 1950 D Toned Jefferson Nickel NGC MS65 Gem Uncirculated 5FS sold for $26.79 on August 11, 2021 after 17 bids.
• 1950-D JEFFERSON NICKEL – NGC CERTIFIED – MS 65 – 5 FULL STEPS – POPULAR DATE sold on August 4, 2021 sold for $21.21 after 18 bids.

1921 silver dollars in Morgan terms are common, but the first year issue of the Peace Dollar series created an instant premium to the value. The website CoinTrackers.com makes this point — even its lowest grade brings $104 at sale. This is a contrast with the many silver dollar coins that become only worth silver content in the lower grades. These are the fresh eBay sales:

• VF 1921 PEACE SILVER DOLLAR sold for $152.50 on August 20, 2021 after 12 bids.
• Nice 1921 Peace Silver Dollar, appears to be high relief with strong details sold for $400.00 on August 19, 2021 after 47 bids.
• 1921 $1 Peace Silver Dollar High Relief 99c NO RESERVE Witter Coin sold for $224.50 on August 19, 2021 after 37 bids.
• 1921 peace dollar high relief sold for $163.50 on August 19, 2021 after 20 bids.
• 1921 $1 Peace Silver Dollar ICG AU 58 Key Date 100th Anniversary sold for $386.00 on August 17, 2021 after 28 bids.

A 1955 doubled die example Lincoln cent were created by a defect that made a very clear doubling of the date and the word Liberty on the coin. Over 300 million 1955 Lincoln cent coins were made, but one die, which are regularly changed out, created these collectible examples that range in price from $1,000 to $4,000 according to CoinQuest.com. These are some of the fresh eBay sales:

• 1955/55 DDO Lincoln Cent Wheat Penny, Doubled Die, Choice BU++ Key Date ERROR! sold for $3,340.00 on July 11, 2021 after 40 bids.
• 1955 Doubled Die Obv Lincoln cent, NGC AU55 BN, great quality DavidKahnRareCoins sold for $1,925.00 on August 15, 2021 after 35 bids.
• 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Wheat Cent RARE KEY DATE (polished) Item#P14373 sold for $1,250.00 on August 15, 2021 after 18 bids.
• 1955 Double Die Lincoln Cent AU+++ In Grade 100% Original 1955 DDO sold for $1,675.00 on August 7, 2021 after 29 bids.
• High Grade – 1955 DDO Lincoln Wheat Back DOUBLE DIE Penny 1¢ Cent – KEY COIN sold for $1,800.75 on July 23, 2021 after 40 bids.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. The same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds is being used to buy high-end collectibles. True numismatic hobbyists have a passion to own certain coins for quite a long time. The investor class in collectibles is solely buying an asset to sell at a later date for a profit. This keeps collectors and investors in a constant battle for who can win in auctions. And, of course, there are zero assurances that investors in any asset class will make a profit ahead.

As you can see, many of the key-date coins come at a premium to other coins. Some might be the equivalent of a “rookie” or “error” card in sports collectibles. That said, it is important for investors and collectors alike to understand that these key-date coins need to be used as a reference for other coins which might cost the same $100 or $1,000 when it comes to demand, scarcity and condition that all contribute to coin prices. Collectors Dashboard periodically updates this key date list to see where the prices of these coins travel too.

Image provided by Heritage Auctions.