What are the key and semi-key dates for the 50 centavo uspi series?

I know mintage alone is not the sole consideration.

I recently acquired a 1905s 50 centavo coin for $5 in vf condition. its mintage is 800k+, the 2nd lowest of the bigger coin series next to the 1904p. but it's less compared to the 1909 and 1917.

krausse in a 2004 catalogue lists the 1904p $25 in F and $85 in UNC. 1905s is $8 in F but $400 in UNC. weird.

Hi DIC, krause and the redbook is more suitable for figuring out the price rather than scarcity.

by experience it's the 1936M commemorative, then the 1921M, 1905 and finally the 1920 soft strike, the semi-keys. Dont lose your 1905, you were lucky to get it.

And of course it's the 1906 that's still the cornerstone, the main key that unlocks the set. If you get a 1906, then you have a 99% chance of completing the entire 50c set

1921M? really? i always thought that it was one of the easiest ones to get in high grades. got an AU-UNC grade for P300 last auction. 1904p has to be in the top also with 11k mintage.

50 centavos key dates are as follows.
1903-S - (RARE) only 2 known to exist and are both certified by ANACS XF45
1905-S - are very hard to find in UNC
1908-S - hardly seen in any AU-UNC condition in any auction
1909-S - another killer date that even in AU condition is hard to find.

thanks for the input especially on the condition in which the coin is difficult to get.

The 1905-P is very rare with only 471 pcs of mintage unlike the 1905-S.

Hi DIC Keydates or rarity has always been, for me, relative, what is so easy to come by in "Africa" is so much a "rarity" somewhere elsewhere. You were at an auction among collectors, that meant most likely, participants already have their 1921s, that's why you got it for that price. So you got lucky with that situation

Try to unload your nice 1921 immeadiately elsewhere, at 50% mark up, and you'l see what I mean

That's why mintage quantity, for me, is just an 85% indication on it's desirability. The 15% balance is wether the current owners are willing to part with it, and wether you are there with the money and knowledge to see the opportunity.

Luck plays an important role in hunting your wanted coins

Learned above the hard way when I traded my 1936M aunc, a few years back when I didnt have a redbook

The 1917 fifty centavos is one of the most undervalued coins by collectors as rare. In fact, this date is rarely offered locally and even on ebay. Grab one if you could still see 1.

FN is right, just saw a 1917S fifty centavos EF went for 59$ on Ebay.

Don't forget the 1918 fifty centavos with inveted S mintmark. Never seen one for a long time even on ebay.

I just purchased a 1920 Fifty Centavo and the two is very light compared to the other three numbers.

Is this a counterfiet or is this what someone called a soft strike?

Thanks