Ok I finally broke down and registered. I've been lurking here for well over a year and was just to lazy to sign up. I've been collecting coins since I had a paper route in the sixties, so I have quite a large collection. I've seached here and a few other coin forums along with searching the US Mint archives and Google, but I just can't find what I'm looking for. It seems like someone here will always come up with answers to those with questions, so here goes: I'm looking for original pricing for US Proof sets for every year back to 1950. I've somewhere seen the listing for Prestige Proof sets, but not the annual Proof sets. Doug
The Red Book will have the issue or released price for all Proof sets and Mint sets. Welcome To CoinTalk... Allen
Doug, thats my era, actually late 60's early 70's. You must undoubtedly have some nice sets that were bought for a fraction of their cost today. GOOD FOR YOU! Today I wish I would have started collecting back then, not so that I could make a profit but so that I wouldn't have to spend so much today to have what I desire. Keep On Collecting!!! Allen
Yes, my mom got me to start buying proof sets in 1968 so I have all those to present, plus over the years I went back to 1950. I really got hooked on Lincoln pennies though. You wouldn't believe the old people on my paper route the paid my with pennies. It made me mad at the time, but now that I look back, I'm sure glad they did! Of coarse they paid my in all kinds of denominations, and me being raise by a collecter mother, I collected everything. No matter what the profit I could probably get, I doubt I will every sell. I have 3 boys and only the youngest collects with me , so he'll most likely get the bulk of it. Oh by the way, thanks for the tip on the Red Book. I did'nt even think to look at mine. Doug
1950 - 1964 = $2.10 1968 - 1972 = $5.00 1973 - 1976 = $7 1976 silver = $15 1978 - 1979 = $9 1980 - 1992 = $ 11 1993- 1998 = $12.50 1999 - 2003 = $19.95 2004 - 2006 = $22.95 2007 19.95
Proof sets have been a passion from the beginning for me. The silver sets 64 and older are very special to me. I had breakout sets going back to 54. I was shooting for 50 like you. As fate would have it I had to sell them to stay a float while I was out of work. I'm sad about it but not bitter. It was a blessing to have them. The great part is I can have them all again and more one day and that will be great fun acquiring them, but just not much fun shelling out the bucks to pay for them. I would love to have 42-36 as well, but who wouldn't. I still have 65-76 and some sets from the 80's. The 80's I mostly give as gifts to people I know that are born those years. I have a good friend who's a dealer and I can get them for next to nothing sometimes. What I still have that are my pride and joy today are my BU year/mint sets which start at 64 and go back through most all of the 50's. They are all break outs. I have some Bu year/mint sets from the 40's and 30's also. Most of them commemorate my family members B-years. Then I have one 1912P year sets (circulated) to commemorate my Grandpa's B-year. I hope to get that year in BU condition one day, when I have money to burn. It's nice to hear your son is involved, must be fun. My children are in their mid twenties now and think I'm crazy for collecting. I'm just crazy "about it". Take care and God Bless. Allen
Welcome to the forum. So Doug S - where ya from in Minnesota? I visit minneapolis often, so far no coin shops visits up there. I have proof sets from the mid-80's on. I keep thinking one day I will get the rest, but so far the older coins are consuming my coin budget(and beyond).
This is one of the nicest things I've seen on Cointalk in a LONG time. Hit a nerve with me. I can relate to having to sell stuff when you don't want to. But you keep an upbeat attitude. You can either buy back or it wasn't that important in the first place. Second Point: Proof sets. I really think they are the overlooked item by collectors today (and in past years). We'll see, but that's just my opionion.
This will make you feel bad: In 1858 the Mint began selling Proof coins to the general public. That year you could buy a complete set of Proof coins for $46.00 The complete set included the following coins: Flying Eagle Cent Seated Liberty Half Dime Seated Liberty Dime Seated Liberty Quarter Seated Liberty Half Dollar Seated Liberty Silver Dollar Gold Princess Head $1 Gold Liberty $2 1/2 Gold Princess $3 Gold Liberty $5 Gold Liberty $10 Gold Liberty $20 That is 12 Proof coins with a face value of $43.41 for only $46.00. The Proofing charge was only $2.59 (or about $0.22 per coin). Even at that price the Mint sold only 2 complete sets (plus one set for the Mint Cabinet that is now in the Smithsonian). Where is my time machine when I need it?
I live in Roseville. It's a 1st ring suburb on the north side right between Minneapolis and St Paul. I don't do a lot of shopping at coin shops. There are a few but mostly I do a coin show here or there. I also have my favorite internet dealers if I nedd a specific coin and of coarse the US Mint. Doug
Indeed it does make me feel bad Hobo, however, $46.00 back in those days was a boat load of money. Most folks couldn't afford that kind of cash outlay. Coin collecting, at that time, was truley the hobby of kings. We are all much more fortunate, in this modern era, that we the common man and woman, are able to afford to purchase and collect and not have to worry about keeping ourselves fed and warm.....but I hear ya'.....man if I could only go back............................
Lurking????? a little web search reveals that the wages for a calker in Glasgow was $1.50 per day. I don,t know how that relates to us in USA but it gives an idea.--------To purchase that $46. proof set a working man in those days would need to work about a month.
