How many would like to see The US Mint abandon the silver proof set and offer a silver uncirculated mint set instead? Although I've purchased the silver proof sets, I don't like them - due to the high contrast mirrored fields and frosted devices, I can't tell the difference between the silver proofs and the clad proofs. Uncirculated silver coins, on the other hand, would look like nice frosty white coins, the difference between the clad and silver readily apparent.
My yearning is for a silver dollar set. They make the half/quarters/dime out of silver. I can't see why they don't do the annual dollar set in all silver. Beats me!
I doubt you'll see any silver mint sets coming out of the mint anytime soon. Last year, they discontinued several issues, sets, and miscellanious other products that didn't sell all that well, and I still can't keep up with all the yearly sets, rolls, commemoratives, and displays every year.
I would vote to keep the Silver Proof set. Dump the satin mint set and start making clad and silver mint sets.
Yeah, I'd go for dumping the satin set if they made a silver mint set. As for now, the satin set is the best thing going for their annual sets. They kinda look like matte proofs, with a silvery look to them and are one of the lower mintages annual sets. There are some real semi keys in the satin sets.
They're common at the moment and depending which series you're talking about, they have great portential. For example, the 2008-P&D Satin Lincoln, mintage approximately 750,000 (less than the 31-s). The 31-s was heavily saved and is still worth $50 in good.
I would not want to abandon the proof set, but I would probably buy a silver uncirculated mint in addition to the silver proof set. LouieLot
Yes the 31-S was heavily saved but most still went into circulation. There will not be that many satin coins going into circulation. The great majority will be saved in the high grades as minted. My point was that they are not semi keys and should not be called such. They are very common and will be for the next 100 years. With that said, I wish I'm wrong. I bought a large amount of sets each year. The only folks that will do well with these are the ones that can pick out the 69s and 70s and get them in good plastic.
I also have a very difficult time telling the difference between silver and clad proof sets. If it weren't for the packaging I probably wouldn't even be able to tell.
Well, we're each entitled to our opinions and there is no shortage of differing opinions with this hobby. lol The fact the 31's went into circulation is a factor, but slightly (because some pieces were lost) mitigated by the fact even a good example is worth $50. Probably most of the 31-s mintage is in collector hands. Now factor in that the recent bicentennial cents have sparked the interest of Lincoln collectors and brought many newbees into the hobby, who will probably start or stay with only the Memorial series because it's more easily achievable and factor in the low mintage for a modern Lincoln of approximately 750,000 pieces for 2008 (about a third of the proof mintage). That said, I won't argue there are a number of other factor that will determine how these satins perform. In my opinion, if you're a modern collector, these satins have a great deal going for them - not only are they low mintage for a modern, they are a distinct variety that looks great, many like matte proofs.
A couple more points. I hope you're wrong too, lol, cause I'm buying all I can at about $1 each - if you're right, the down side, based on buying them for a dollar, is probably that they won't appreciate as much or take longer to do so - practically no chance of them going down from $1. Now take a look at eBay sales starting with 2008 back through 2005 - each year fewer are offered, so the older issues are drying up because they're finding homes in collections and due to hoarders like us. Yeah, the 69's are already carrying a huge premium, about the cost of a 31-s and I haven't seen any 70's offered. So, buying, hopefully unsearched, raw coins at about a buck leaves open the possibility of finding a few 69's. I'd say hang on to them.
You'all should learn and learn fast the difference in silver verses clad. You'all should learn and learn fast the difference in silver verses clad. Silver is white and clad is grey, very subtle but always there. Learn to look at coins from many different angles, across the surfaces, from arms length, thru tissue paper if needed but learn the diff ASAP.
I think most in here can tell a silver coin from a clad. The problem is the proofs have mirrored fields and frosted devices that make the silver & clad look almost identical.
Here's a trick that my boss at the coin shop taught me a long time ago. Go get a silver proof and a clad proof and set them somewhat close to each other. Then take a piece of tissue paper (toilet paper will work) and cover them at the same time. The silver coin will show white underneath the tissue. Starkly different and immediately distinguishable. True, but this is a way to know without the training. Hope it helps some of you.
Yeah, this is kinda my point, the two are way too similar. I'd rather see silver unc sets, which are way different.
