My collecting interests are generally more focused on older US issues, but I can certainly appreciate interesting modern coins as well. The 1997 Botanic Garden Coinage and Currency Set definitely fits the bill. I actually did not even know that two special matte finish Jefferson nickels were made in the 1990s until about a month ago. The 1994 Thomas Jefferson Coinage and Currency Set included a 1994 matte finish nickel with a mintage of 167,703. Three years later, this set came out, but only 25,000 sets (and therefore 25,000 1997 matte finish nickels) were made. More on the very interesting back story for this set can be found at the following link: https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=267762 One thing that first hits you when you look at the set is how visually pleasing the packaging and information booklet are. The red roses and green background look very nice and are very 1990s-esque in my opinion. The coins are also very eye appealing. Both coins have a matte finish (the nickel was specially made to match the silver dollar). I particularly like the reverse of the silver dollar: a beautiful rose surrounded by a rose garland. The nickel has the lowest mintage (25,000) for a nickel since some of the proof Jefferson nickels were made in the early 1940s. The nickel has a nice golden toning on the reverse. Golden reverse toning is a known “issue” for both the 1994 and 1997 sets, though I find this issue to be not bad at all. The series 1995 dollar bill complements the coins well also. I highly recommend this set as it has everything going for it: scarcity (at least for a modern US issue), eye appeal, and great packaging. I’m glad I stumbled across this set!
Nice set and the nickel looks great. With many of these, the packaging was not kind to the nickel and it turned ugly.
I can imagine! There are a couple of small spots of toning under the right side of Monticello not readily noticeable in the pictures but other than that the toning is very nice.
I agree it's a beautiful set. A very underrated silver dollar. In my set (bought from the mint) the dollar has started toning but the nickel is still pristine. I believe the plastic encapsulating the dollar has a pinhole which has enabled the toning.
Actually, you can. There were uncirculated issues of the 1994-P and 1997-P nickels issued, so you can have a complete date and mint mark set of nickels without them or the Philadelphia proof issues.
The Satin Finished coins are actually different coins. So, it depends upon a persons definitions and collecting goals. What you say is true if you only want all the dates and mint marks.
Absolutely correct...The '97 Satin Finish Nickel was ONLY available in the 2-coin set. Sets were broken up and both the dollars and nickels were then graded and slabed.
Read what I said again. Nobody had a different opinion. What I posted was fact not an opinion and it's true. READ WHAT I SAID AGAIN. I said the OPs nickel looks great but many don't because of the packaging. That's a fact. You need to stop this type of thing.
Big difference. You post the truth and do it in a fun way. Don't ever change. Some don't know what the truth is but feel the need to post false information, just to be posting.
Tell ya what. I won't reply to your posts. That way you can always be right and not be offended if someone has a different option. Sorry you feel that way
I was thinking that they get damaged cuz they are taken out of there original packaging. That makes most sense to me
Very nice set! Thanks for sharing! I didn't even know they existed. For sure something that I would like to add to my collection. I think the word you are looking for is Opinion and in my opinion, you aren't making a whole lot of sense with your replies to IDHair