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Key Dates, Rare Coins & Famous Errors

The coins that make collectors check their change: the lowest-mintage issues in every series, plus the errors and varieties people search for most.

Famous coins to know

1877 Indian Head CentThe 1877 is the key date of the Indian Head cent series.
852,500
1909-S Indian Head CentThe 1909-S Indian cent has the lowest mintage of the series and was struck in the design's final year.
309,000
1909-S VDB Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1909-S VDB is the most famous key date in American coin collecting
484,000
1914-D Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1914-D is one of the two great Lincoln cent keys.
1,193,000
1931-S Lincoln Wheat CentThe 1931-S has the lowest mintage of any regular Lincoln cent after 1909, struck during the Depression.
866,000
1943 Lincoln Wheat CentAll regular 1943 cents are zinc-coated steel and stick to a magnet.
684,628,670
1955 Lincoln Wheat CentThis is the year of the famous 1955 Doubled Die Obverse, where the date and lettering show strong, obvious…
330,580,000
1969-S Lincoln Memorial CentThe 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is a major rarity.
544,375,000
1972 Lincoln Memorial CentLook for the 1972 Doubled Die Obverse, with strong doubling in LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
2,933,255,000
1982 Lincoln Memorial CentIn 1982 the cent switched from brass to copper-plated zinc, so both metals exist along with Large Date and…
10,712,525,000
1995 Lincoln Memorial CentThe 1995 Doubled Die Obverse shows doubling in LIBERTY and is one of the most findable valuable modern errors.
6,411,440,000
1885 Liberty Head "V" NickelThe 1885 is the key date of the Liberty Head nickel series.
1,476,490
1913 Buffalo Nickel1913 saw two types
30,993,520
1937-D Buffalo NickelLook for the famous 1937-D "Three-Legged" variety, where over-polishing of the die removed the bison's front…
17,826,000
1950-D Jefferson NickelThe 1950-D has the lowest mintage of any regular circulating Jefferson nickel and was heavily hoarded by…
2,630,030
1949-S Roosevelt DimeThe 1949-S is one of the lower-mintage silver Roosevelt dimes.
13,510,000
1982-P Roosevelt DimeSome 1982 Philadelphia dimes were struck without the P mint mark.
519,475,000
1916 Standing Liberty QuarterWith only 52,000 struck, the 1916 is the key to the series and a one-year type with the original Type 1…
52,000
1932-D Washington QuarterThe 1932-D is one of the two keys of the Washington series, with a mintage of just 436,800.
436,800
1932-S Washington QuarterThe 1932-S is the other key Washington quarter, with only 408,000 struck.
408,000
1921-D Walking Liberty Half DollarThe 1921-D has the lowest mintage of the Walking Liberty series.
208,000
1955 Franklin Half DollarSome 1955 Franklins show a die clash nicknamed the "Bugs Bunny" variety for the buck-teeth-like marks at…
2,498,181
1964 Kennedy Half DollarThe 1964 Kennedy half is 90% silver and was the only Kennedy half struck for circulation in that alloy.
273,304,004
1970-D Kennedy Half DollarThe 1970-D was issued only in mint sets, not for circulation and is the key to the Kennedy series.
2,150,000
1889-CC Morgan Silver DollarThe 1889-CC is the scarcest Carson City Morgan dollar.
350,000
1893-S Morgan Silver DollarThe 1893-S is the king of Morgan dollars, with just 100,000 struck and very few surviving in high grade.
100,000
1895 Morgan Silver DollarThe 1895 Philadelphia Morgan is known only as a proof.
12,000
1921 Morgan Silver DollarThe 1921 is the most common Morgan dollar, struck in huge numbers after the Pittman Act melts.
44,690,000
1921 Peace Silver DollarThe 1921 Peace dollar was struck in high relief, a one-year type that was hard to strike fully.
1,006,473
1928 Peace Silver DollarThe 1928 Philadelphia Peace dollar has the lowest mintage of the regular series and is the key date.
360,649
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Errors, varieties & patterns

How to identify errors →
1804 Draped Bust Large Cent (Restrike, 68 known)Variety / error
68
1810 Classic Head Large Cent (Restrike, 3 known)Variety / error
3
1823 Coronet (Matron Head) Large Cent (Restrike, an estimated 240 examples exist)Variety / error
200+ known
1823 Coronet (Matron Head) Large Cent (Silver restrike, an estimated 2 examples exist)Variety / error
2
1864 Indian Head Cent, Bronze (L on ribbon)Variety / error
Unknown
1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent Proof (Struck illegally, 1 known to exist)Variety / error
Unknown
1922 "No D" Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (White metal pattern)Variety / error
2
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Aluminum pattern)Variety / error
1
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Copper-plated Steel pattern)Variety / error
Unknown
1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent (Zinc-plated Steel pattern)Variety / error
Unknown
1943 Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
40
1943-D Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
Unknown
1943-S Copper (Bronze) PennyVariety / error
Unknown
1944 Steel PennyVariety / error
27+ known
1944-D/S Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1944-D Steel PennyVariety / error
10
1944-S Steel PennyVariety / error
1+ known
1960 Lincoln Memorial Cent Proof (Small Date)Variety / error
Unknown
1970-S Lincoln Memorial Cent Proof (Large Date, Low 7)Variety / error
Unknown
1974 Aluminum Cent (Pattern)Variety / error
1,570,000
1974 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Bronze-plated steel pattern)Variety / error
1,570,000
1974-D Aluminum Cent (Pattern)Variety / error
10
1975 Lincoln Memorial Cent (Aluminum pattern)Variety / error
66
1979-S Lincoln Memorial Cent Proof (Only, Clear S)Variety / error
Unknown
1981-S Lincoln Memorial Cent Proof (Clear S)Variety / error
Unknown
1982 Zinc Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1982-W Zinc Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1982-D Zinc Lincoln CentVariety / error
Unknown
1825 Capped Bust Quarter (Included in 1824, all are 5 over 2 or 4 overdate errors)Variety / error
In date total
1827 Capped Bust Quarter Proof (Restrike, all known coins are 7 over 3 overdate errors)Variety / error
20
1866 Seated Liberty Quarter, No Motto (Mint records do not state any were made)Variety / error
Unknown
1976 Silver Bicentennial Quarter (Pattern, silver-clad copper)Variety / error
3
1964-D Peace Silver Dollar (All reported melted)Variety / error
316,106
1828 Capped Bust Dime (Small Date, reduced size)Variety / error
In date total
1829 Capped Bust Dime (Curl Base 2)Variety / error
In date total
1830 Capped Bust Dime (Overdate, 30 over 29, 1830/29)Variety / error
In date total
1797 Draped Bust Dime (13 Stars obverse)Variety / error
In date total
1798 Draped Bust Dime (Overdate, 8 over 7, 1798/97)Variety / error
In date total
1798 Draped Bust Dime (Small 8)Variety / error
In date total
1804 Draped Bust Dime (14 Stars reverse)Variety / error
In date total
1796 Draped Bust Half Dime (Overdate, 6 over 5, 1796/5)Variety / error
In date total
1796 Draped Bust Half Dime (LIKERTY die variety)Variety / error
In date total
1797 Draped Bust Half Dime (13 Stars obverse)Variety / error
In date total
1800 Draped Bust Half Dime (LIBEKTY die variety)Variety / error
In date total
1942 Mercury Dime (Overdate, 2 over 1, 1942/1)Variety / error
In date total
1942-D Mercury Dime (Overdate, 2 over 1, 1942/1-D)Variety / error
In date total
1838 Seated Liberty Dime (Small Stars)Variety / error
In date total
1838 Seated Liberty Dime (Partial Drapery)Variety / error
In date total
1875-S Seated Liberty Dime (Mint mark in wreath, above bow)Variety / error
In date total
1875-CC Seated Liberty Dime (Mint mark in wreath, above bow)Variety / error
In date total
1876-CC Seated Liberty Dime (Doubled Die Obverse)Variety / error
In date total
1891-O Seated Liberty Dime (O over horizontal O)Variety / error
In date total
1838 Seated Liberty Half Dime (Small Stars)Variety / error
In date total
1849 Seated Liberty Half Dime (Overdate, 9 over 6, 1849/6)Variety / error
In date total
1858 Seated Liberty Half Dime (Date over inverted date)Variety / error
In date total
1861 Seated Liberty Half Dime (Overdate, 1 over 0, 1861/0)Variety / error
In date total
1870-S Seated Liberty Half Dime (Unique)Variety / error
Unknown
1979-P Susan B. Anthony Dollar (Wide Rim, Near Date variety)Variety / error
In date total
1979-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S)Variety / error
In date total
1981-S Susan B. Anthony Dollar Proof (Type 2, Clear S)Variety / error
In date total

The three lowest mintages in every series

Flowing Hair Large Cent

  1. 1793: 36,103
  2. 1793 (Wreath reverse): 63,353

Liberty Cap Large Cent

  1. 1795 (Reeded edge, 9 known): 9
  2. 1793: 11,056
  3. 1795: 37,000

Draped Bust Large Cent

  1. 1799: 42,540
  2. 1804: 96,500
  3. 1806: 348,000

Classic Head Large Cent

  1. 1811: 218,025
  2. 1809: 222,867
  3. 1814: 357,830

Coronet (Matron Head) Large Cent

  1. 1821: 389,000
  2. 1823: 1,262,000
  3. 1824: 1,262,000

Braided Hair Large Cent

  1. 1839: 200,000
  2. 1857: 333,456
  3. 1855: 1,574,829

Flying Eagle Cent

  1. 1856: 634
  2. 1857: 17,450,000
  3. 1858: 24,600,000

Indian Head Cent

  1. 1909-S: 309,000
  2. 1877: 852,500
  3. 1908-S: 1,115,000

Lincoln Wheat Cent

  1. 1909-S VDB: 484,000
  2. 1931-S: 866,000
  3. 1914-D: 1,193,000

Lincoln Memorial Cent

  1. 1968-S: 258,270,001
  2. 1965: 301,470,000
  3. 1973-S: 317,177,295

Lincoln Bicentennial Cent

  1. 2009 Presidency Lincoln Cent: 129,600,000
  2. 2009-D Presidency Lincoln Cent: 198,000,000
  3. 2009 Birthplace Lincoln Cent: 284,800,000

Lincoln Shield Cent

  1. 2025-D: 645,200,000
  2. 2025: 655,200,000
  3. 2024-D: 1,513,200,000

Shield Nickel

  1. 1880: 16,000
  2. 1879: 25,900
  3. 1881: 68,800

Liberty Head "V" Nickel

  1. 1913: 5
  2. 1912-S: 238,000
  3. 1885: 1,476,490

Buffalo Nickel

  1. 1926-S: 970,000
  2. 1931-S: 1,200,000
  3. 1913-S (Type 2, flat on reverse, Key date): 1,209,000

Jefferson Nickel

  1. 1950-D: 2,630,030
  2. 1939-D: 3,514,000
  3. 1938-S: 4,105,000

Westward Journey Nickel

  1. 2004-D Keelboat Nickel: 344,880,000
  2. 2004-P Peace Medal Nickel: 361,440,000
  3. 2004-P Keelboat Nickel: 366,720,000

Return to Monticello Nickel

  1. 2024-D: 32,880,000
  2. 2009-P: 39,840,000
  3. 2009-D: 46,800,000

Roosevelt Dime

  1. 1996-W: 1,457,000
  2. 1955: 12,450,181
  3. 1949-S: 13,510,000

Draped Bust Quarter

  1. 1796: 6,146
  2. 1804: 6,738
  3. 1805: 121,394

Capped Bust Quarter

  1. 1827: 4,000
  2. 1823: 17,800
  3. 1822: 64,080

Seated Liberty Quarter

  1. 1873-CC, No Arrows: 4,000
  2. 1886: 5,000
  3. 1884: 8,000

Barber Quarter

  1. 1913-S: 40,000
  2. 1901-S: 72,664
  3. 1896-S: 188,039

Standing Liberty Quarter

  1. 1916: 52,000
  2. 1927-S: 396,000
  3. 1927-D: 976,000

Washington Quarter

  1. 1932-S: 408,000
  2. 1932-D: 436,800
  3. 1937-S: 1,652,000

Bicentennial Quarter

  1. 1976: 809,784,016
  2. 1976-D: 860,118,839

D.C. and U.S. Territories Quarter

  1. 2009-P Northern Mariana Islands Quarter: 35,200,000
  2. 2009-D Northern Mariana Islands Quarter: 37,600,000
  3. 2009-D American Samoa Quarter: 39,600,000

America the Beautiful Quarter

  1. 2019-W Lowell Quarter: 2,000,000
  2. 2019-W American Memorial Park Quarter: 2,000,000
  3. 2019-W War In The Pacific Quarter: 2,000,000

Washington Crossing the Delaware Quarter

  1. 2021-P: 838,400,000
  2. 2021-D: 865,400,000

Flowing Hair Half Dollar

  1. 1794: 23,464
  2. 1795: 299,680

Draped Bust Half Dollar

  1. 1796: 3,918
  2. 1802: 29,890
  3. 1801: 30,289

Capped Bust Half Dollar

  1. 1838-O: 20
  2. 1836, Reeded Edge: 1,200
  3. 1815: 47,150

Seated Liberty Half Dollar

  1. 1853-O, No Arrows: 4
  2. 1882: 4,400
  3. 1884: 4,400

Barber Half Dollar

  1. 1914: 124,610
  2. 1915: 138,450
  3. 1913: 188,624

Walking Liberty Half Dollar

  1. 1921-D: 208,000
  2. 1921: 246,000
  3. 1938-D: 491,600

Franklin Half Dollar

  1. 1955: 2,498,181
  2. 1953: 2,668,120
  3. 1948: 3,006,814

Kennedy Half Dollar

  1. 2008-P: 1,700,000
  2. 2008-D: 1,700,000
  3. 2010-D: 1,700,000

Morgan Silver Dollar

  1. 1895: 12,000
  2. 1893-S: 100,000
  3. 1894: 110,000

Peace Silver Dollar

  1. 1928: 360,649
  2. 1927: 848,000
  3. 1927-S: 866,000

50 State Quarter

  1. 2008-D Oklahoma Quarter: 194,600,000
  2. 2004-P Iowa Quarter: 213,800,000
  3. 2002-P Ohio Quarter: 217,200,000

American Women Quarter

  1. 2025-D Althea Gibson Quarter: 31,600,000
  2. 2025-P Althea Gibson Quarter: 35,200,000
  3. 2025-P Dr. Vera Rubin Quarter: 55,800,000

Presidential Dollar

  1. 2020-P George H. W. Bush: 1,242,275
  2. 2020-D George H. W. Bush: 1,502,425
  3. 2013-D William Howard Taft: 3,360,000

Sacagawea Dollar

  1. 2022-P Ely S. Parker Native American Dollar: 980,000
  2. 2022-D Ely S. Parker Native American Dollar: 980,000
  3. 2020-D Elizabeth Peratrovich and Alaska's Anti-Discrimination Law Native American Dollar: 1,260,000

American Innovation Dollar

  1. 2019-D Georgia: Trustees' Garden Innovation Dollar: 368,475
  2. 2023-D Mississippi: First human lung transplant Innovation Dollar: 383,600
  3. 2020-D South Carolina: Septima Clark Innovation Dollar: 397,800

Gold Dollar

  1. 1875: 400
  2. 1856-D: 1,460
  3. 1860-D: 1,566

Indian Head Eagle

  1. 1907 (Rolled Edge, Periods): 42
  2. 1911-D: 30,100
  3. 1908 (No Motto): 33,500

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle

  1. 1907 (High Relief): 12,367
  2. 1908-S (With Motto): 22,000
  3. 1913-S: 34,000

Eisenhower Dollar

  1. 1973-D: 2,000,000
  2. 1973: 2,000,056
  3. 1976 (Bicentennial, Type I): 4,019,000

Two-Cent Piece

  1. 1872: 65,000
  2. 1871: 721,250
  3. 1870: 861,250

Three-Cent Silver

  1. 1872: 1,000
  2. 1870: 3,000
  3. 1871: 3,400

Twenty-Cent Piece

  1. 1876-CC: 10,000
  2. 1876: 14,640
  3. 1875: 36,910

Draped Bust Dime

  1. 1804: 8,265
  2. 1802: 10,975
  3. 1800: 21,760

Capped Bust Dime

  1. 1809: 51,065
  2. 1811: 65,180
  3. 1822: 100,000

Seated Liberty Dime

  1. 1867: 6,000
  2. 1866: 8,000
  3. 1865: 10,000

Barber Dime

  1. 1894-S: 24
  2. 1895-O: 440,000
  3. 1913-S: 510,000

Mercury Dime

  1. 1916-D: 264,000
  2. 1921-D: 1,080,000
  3. 1921: 1,230,000

Flowing Hair Half Dime

  1. 1794: 7,756
  2. 1795: 78,660

Draped Bust Half Dime

  1. 1802: 3,060
  2. 1796: 10,230
  3. 1805: 15,600

Capped Bust Half Dime

  1. 1837: 871,000
  2. 1832: 965,000
  3. 1829: 1,230,000

Seated Liberty Half Dime

  1. 1867: 8,000
  2. 1866: 10,000
  3. 1865: 13,000

Susan B. Anthony Dollar

  1. 1981-P: 3,000,000
  2. 1981-D: 3,250,000
  3. 1981-S: 3,492,000

Before you celebrate: valuable dates are the most counterfeited. Weigh the coin, check the mint mark under magnification and use a major grading service (PCGS, NGC) for any coin that could carry a large premium.

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