What are the odds?

[alpacafarmer]

I know there are a lot of you that have been sorting for a long time and may be able to answer my question. I have hand sorted between 3.5 and 4 million cents and last night I came across my first ever key date (1914-D). So the question is did I get lucky that I didn't need to go through 10 million to find a Key ( feel lucky) or am I way behind and should have found 3 or 4 by now? I have sorted enough to know how many wheat's to expect in a box and how often a wild indian is going to show up.

[highroller4321]

There is no real way to tell the odds, but I would say you are very lucky!

Congrats on the find.

[johnbrickner]

Well, I'm no math expert but let's say the quantity you sorted and the % copper are on your side. Given 4M pennies sorted @ 25% Cu, you've seen a million copper cents and found the 1 in a million. Gratz.

[cooyon]

Congrats on your great find! The odds are probably not on your side to find 3 or 4 more key dates, but the fact that you found a 1914-D indicates there may still be great finds waiting for us sorters and searchers.

[Recyclersteve]

I imagine some would have thought the coin was a 1944-D instead and just dumped it in with their wheaties. Nice going.

[wolvesdad]

Very nice going!!

[alpacafarmer]

14-D_opt.gif (217.28 KiB) Viewed 1024 times

[wolvesdad]

A tiny hairline scratch, otherwise that one is in SUPER condition!
Awesome find!!

On a cent, is that hairline still count as a damaged coin by PCGS/NGC standards? Experts...

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

wow congrats!!!

I've found my share of semi-keys but wow!

[Thogey]

And when you die the woman in your life will dump it back into the coinstar.

Just like the previous owner's did.

[spacemanX]

excellent find!! congrats

for perspective, if you were only going thru Wheaties, the odds of finding that coin is 1/21,617