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Key Date Coin Definition - What is a Key Date?

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The 1914-D  penny is a Key Date in the Wheat Ears series.

The 1914-D penny is a Key Date in the Wheat Ears series because it is fairly rare, and hard to find due to collector demand.

Photo courtesy of Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
Definition: A key date is a coin that is usually the last to be placed in a collection, because the date or date and mint mark combination is especially rare or hard to find. It is the coin that most collectors need to complete a certain collection.

See a list of the Wheat Penny Key Dates.
Examples: His collection of Lincoln Cents would be complete if he could just find that elusive key date, the 1909-S VDB penny.

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