ATB Uncirculated Set vs. ATB Circulating Set

My apologies if this has been addressed, my search came up empty.

It's well known that the U.S. Mint offers several ATB quarter sets, two of them being the Uncirculated Set ($13.95) and the Circulating Set ($5.95)

Now, if I define "Uncirculated" as "A business strike preserved prior to entering use in commerce", what the heck is the difference between the two offerings above? Yes, I know the packaging is different, but the coins? What justifies the price differential?

Perhaps I'm missing something but I don't see it.

 

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Unc might be satin finish?

 

So ATB quarters in bags, rolls, or circulating sets are different from those in Uncirculated Sets? Still not seeing it...

 

Allegedly so. I don't see it either. Supposedly, the ones in the $13.95 set are individually plucked from a special early in the year run, and by the way, they are out together, just like Mint Set coins are, while the $5.95 sets are taken from production bins, and aren't available until the last intro ceremony. That said, occasionally MS67 coins come from the $5.95 set, while the same coin the same year in the $13.95 set can't cut it.

As for my PERSONAL experience, if you want the BEST P and D ATB quarters to send in, get the 3-coin set and send those in. The last time I tried that, the P and D scored MS67 and the proof S was a PF70.

 

Simple and it is just two batches of production. Bags and rolls are uncirculated and sold to collectors and the other batch are for to be circulated. Bags are also for Bullion dealers and rolls are for small collectors. Bag coins that are sold to dealers gets to put their own pre-label rolls, feed into the their own rolling machine then resold at retail. Rolls are the best because they go directly to collectors. The bags runs a risk of being ding, rub, scratched with the rest of the coins and their own private rolling labeling machine.

 

I seriously doubt the mint runs different production batches based upon where the product is destined. More likely, once the presses are running and shiny new quarters are being produced, hoppers of finished product are shuttled to wherever they're needed. The coins you're buying from the mint store are no different than those destined for commerce.

Now, having said that, V. Kurt Bellman's assertion that certain sets are assembled early in the production run makes a lot of sense. A number of uncirculated and 3-coin sets are needed in inventory when they go on sale. Fulfilling them early means the dies are crisp and new and the strikes should be superior. If other products, like the circulating sets, are just grabbed from production bins on an "as-needed" basis, they may be a lesser strike, although not necessarily (maybe they just installed a fresh new set of dies today). I suspect the bagged and rolled coins are sourced the same way as the circulating sets, although I'll allow the possibility that they assemble a number of them early in the run as well.

Returning to my original question, I still maintain there is very little difference between the uncirculated sets and the circulating sets unless, like Mr Bellman, you're trying to maximize your chances at an MS-70 strike. In that case, buy a few Uncirculated sets the day they go on sale to get those early strikes.

 

Note that the words are "circulating set".
It in no way defines or implies a grade.
To me that means that the coins could be anywhere from MS to PO-1.

But the danger in my interpretation is that I'm trying to translate Government wording.

 

That's a good point, and a valid one. But since they are coming directly from the mint's production line, I'm basing my argument on the fact that they are technically uncirculated. While it's unlikely the mint would toss in a worn, circulated, G-4 coin, the description would allow them to include dinged or scratched or otherwise imperfect specimens.

 

You have this correct. I own every “circulation” set of ATB quarters since they were offered. All but one year holds superior pieces (I am on subscription for two sets each.) but one year, 2015?, was disappointing.

Here is what I’m saying about the “short runs”. The Block Island, Rhode Island ATB has not yet gone into regular circulation production, OKAY? Yet here sits both a P and a D example in my Dansco album. Early in the year, the U.S. Mint does a smaller run of all 5 ATB quarters for the year for Uncirculated sets, the one with all denominations, they just do.

Later, they fire up the main presses for the stuff in rolls, bags, and ballistic bags. Two separate runs. The set of “Uncirculated” ATB quarters comes from the former, while the “Circulated” sets come from the latter. Is there a diagnostic to tell one from the other? There’s your book subject.

 

They can be in the same bin but it is still by batch and that is what someone from the customer service explained it to me because I ask the same question. You can believe whoever you want.

 

That makes perfect sense. I completely neglected the fact that the sets come out early but the general releases are staggered throughout the year. So, of course, they do exactly what you describe. Thanks!

Indeed. I'll leave that to the more scholarly. I have enough trouble with simple stuff like calendars.

 

My understanding (and supported by inserts that were in Mint sets back in the late 90's) is that the Uncirculated Mint Sets produced annually by the Mint are minted with a bit more pressure, helping to guarantee better strikes. The ATB quarters in the Uncirculated set I assume are produced just like the full Mint Sets. Same for the three coin sets. Whereas the Circulation sets are made up of coins produced off the same presses as the regular coins you get in change.

 

Yep, I agree with all of that. Thing is - sometimes that results in a physical visible difference, maybe even a lot of times, but not always. It’s like overlapping bell curves of quality. On the average, the Unc. bell curve is better, but sometimes we get anomalous samples.

 

Here is my transcript from the U.S Mint two weeks ago:

Uncirculated Coins are hand-loaded into the coining press and struck on specially burnished blanks, yet have a soft, matt-like finish appearance. They are made like circulating coins (which are used every day as money), but with a special process that produces a brilliant finish. They come with an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Circulating Coins are produced for circulations, but those sold directly by the United States Mint are never released to the Federal Reserve Bank. They are typically offered by the Mint in rolls, bags or boxes, which do not include Certificates of Authenticity.

 

For quarters?!?! That sounds like the explanation for non-proof commemoratives.

 

Yes just for ATB

 

Do they really come with a COA?

 

Yes the coins that they are package with has built in COA and it is sealed.

 

Here is the COA Narrative

 

Ok, here's what I think I've learned (thanks to everybody that chimed in)

If you buy an Uncirculated Set from the mint, you get coins struck at a higher pressure*, on specially prepared blanks, hand-loaded into the press by highly trained oompa-loompas wearing cotton gloves. They are intended to be superior specimens, although they may or may not be.

If you buy anything else - bags, rolls, circulating sets, whatever - you're getting everyday, ordinary, business strikes that aren't guaranteed to be anything. These could conceivably (to me) grade anywhere from AU-50 to MS-70, you take your chances. They are potentially inferior, but may or may not be.

So to answer my own question from the original post - yes there is a difference between the 2 sets. Whether that difference translates into anything tangible is up to you. I guess paying up for the $13.95 set increases your odds of getting nice coins, but nothing precludes you from getting a really nice coin in the $5.95 set.

*I just perused the Mint's web site, and there is a statement on the uncirculated set page verifying the "higher pressure strike".