1976-S Bicentennial Silver Set

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Collecting Nut, May 11, 2021.

  1. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Even in the ‘70’s the Mint made no effort to display or have quality control. A nice silver set but the 3 coins are not that great in my opinion.
    55A8BAB2-5F9B-4C25-9062-FC065009974A.jpeg 04E4D357-56A4-4AC1-8856-10A76EE20597.jpeg F0713A8E-76D0-4E27-B23C-29F4480F8BDB.jpeg
     
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  3. William F

    William F Well-Known Member

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  4. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    It’s a shame isn’t it?
     
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  5. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    I have two of the 3-coin Silver Proof Set, and they put the UNC Set to shame. Each coin is in an airtite.
     
  6. RogerC

    RogerC Well-Known Member

    True. Back then there was no special effort. They are lustrous uncirculated business strikes...completed with typical bag marks.
     
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  7. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    These coins were struck in the Mint State format, not as Proofs. Therefore the Mint did not take as much care with them as they would have Proof coins after they were struck.

    The target audiences for these coins were coin collectors and the general public. The mint made almost 5 million of these sets for that purpose. The sales were well below expectations and sets were available for years. Since the general public would not be as fussy as collectors, quality control was not the highest priority.
     
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  8. VistaCruiser69

    VistaCruiser69 Well-Known Member

    That sucks that those proof coins are so beat up. The silver dollar has a bad reed hit on it too.

    I don't see any "frost" on any of those coins. Aren't proofs supposed to have a mirror shine at the low points and "frost" on the high points? I was lucky and got a bicentennial proof quarter at the change quarter machine a few years ago. Mine shows "frost". I figured that all proofs have this. Is that not true? For the purpose of referencing the coins by the op, below are pix of the bicentennial quarter I got in the quarter machine at the carwash a few years ago. Why would there be a difference? They are both "S" proofs.

    6.jpeg 5.jpeg
     
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  9. Spark1951

    Spark1951 Accomplishment, not Activity

    Collecting Nut did not post a proof set...Spark
     
  10. Copper lover

    Copper lover Well-Known Member

    Collecting Nut, I like yours because it is red. Mine is blue. Here is a pic IMG_20210511_034749.jpg
     
  11. VistaCruiser69

    VistaCruiser69 Well-Known Member

    So there are two type of coins that come out of the San Francisco mint, uncirculated sets and proof sets. I got it now. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2021
  12. VistaCruiser69

    VistaCruiser69 Well-Known Member

    These coins look in far better condition than the coins in the op.
    The coins in the op have silver content?
     
  13. William F

    William F Well-Known Member

    The coins that @Copper lover posted are proof coins, and the ones that @Collecting Nut posted are silver-clad business strike coins I believe, that is why they look so different ;)
     
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  14. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Not proof sets, just a sealed silver 3 coin set that Mint employees didn’t have too much respect for. Even back then they were more interested in sales than quality. The Mint has totally forgotten that better coins will bring more money in to them. You can’t save money by cutting quality as that hurts sales.
     
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  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Yes they do. It’s even on the packaging.
     
  16. VistaCruiser69

    VistaCruiser69 Well-Known Member

    Packaged like lollypops, without the stick.

    pop.JPG
     
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  17. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Here is a 1976 Bicentennial set you may not have seen before. These were sold at the 1976 ANA show that was held in New York City. I was lucky enough to get Mint Director, Mary Brooks', autograph. I don't think that she signed very many of them.

    1976 ANA BiCen Set O.jpg 1976 ANA BiCen Set R.jpg 1976 ANA BiCen Set Env.jpg
     
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  18. RogerC

    RogerC Well-Known Member

     
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  19. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Yes, they didn't finally melt down the unsold coins until 1982.

    I have to admit that is a new one for me, never saw that before.
     
  20. LakeEffect

    LakeEffect Average Circulated Supporter

    I've seen a lot of the '76 sets posted lately. I like silver and 1976 was the year I graduated from high school, so I felt the need to pick one up.

    Surprisingly, this low priced eBay find was nicer than I expected. Few bag marks. Slight toning on the Ike. Sorry for the lousy photos.

    1976_BU_Silver_Set.jpg 1976_BU_Silver_Set_REV.jpg
     
  21. LakeEffect

    LakeEffect Average Circulated Supporter

    Next stop, proof set.:shame:
     
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