Who's buying proof sets?

Since I collect modern commemoratives, I like to look at the weekly sales figures the Mint puts out to see how the issues are selling. This is also useful for choosing whether or not to buy the gold issues, providing the mintage is low enough (Looking at you, MacArthur).

Recently, I took a look at some of the other Mint products to see how they were selling, and was shocked to see proof sets flying off in the hundreds of thousands.

Annual Sets___16P3 2016 PRES $1 PROOF SET 131,818
Annual Sets____P17 2015 PROOF SET 632,037
Annual Sets SW2 2015 SILVER PROOF SET 361,511
Annual Sets U15 2015 UNC SET 299,122
Annual Sets PE5 2015 PRES $1 PROOF SET 221,273
Annual Sets P16 2014 PROOF SET 714,661
Annual Sets SW1 2014 SILVER PROOF SET 429,493
Annual Sets U14 2014 UNC SET 345,813
Annual Sets PE4 2014 PRES $1 PROOF SET 229,415
Annual Sets P15 2013 PROOF SET 802,460
Annual Sets SV8 2013 SILVER PROOF SET 419,720
Annual Sets U13 2013 UNC SET 376,844
Annual Sets PE3 2013 PRES $1 PROOF SET 266,730

Where are those numbers coming from? I'm sure dealers account for a chunk, but look at 2013! Over 800,000 sets were sold. Is the demand that high, or are there drawers and boxes in shops across America filled with sets that are collecting dust?

EDIT: Sorry about the text crunch. I had it nicely spaced, but the formatting didn't take.

 

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Dealers & Flippers I suspect. ... .

 

I buy a silver proof set.

 

I have no idea. Not me, for sure.

 

Grandmas and grandpas is my guess. The "granny class" eats em up... a gift for any and all occasions for every grandkid they have so they buy in bulk. Plus the usual dealers and proof collectors etc

 

Well the last show I was at I was seeing dealers sell for just over spot . Proof sets and modern comms. They have over stocks of these from buying estate sales. Even at bargain prices I didn't see a lot being sold.

 

Not me

 

This, I think, to a great extent. Given the market's breathless lust for 70's, any way a dealer can acquire one will easily repay a bunch of relatively useless stuff to occupy their spare table space at shows.

 

I've been buying proof Ike, but nothing for regular mint proof sets .....

 

Sales of these products are down year after year. Back in the 1960's & 1970', they sold multiple millions of proof sets each year.

 

Actually sales of mint and proof sets have been shrinking in recent years. They sold in the millions every year during the 70's and 80's.

 

I've been debating buying up a full set of proof and mint sets, then cracking them to fill up some Danscos. After seeing these and earlier numbers, I won't feel so bad about it, haha.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.

 

Wasn't 2012 the year they ended sales unexpectedly? That might explain for a higher than normal purchase count on 2013's....

 

When I was a kid collector with my father, the annual proof set was a big deal. They lost their luster with overproduction. If you want to fill up Danscos with them, that's as good as a use as any. At least they won't draw dust.

 

Well in some cases like Jefferson nickels were satin finished not the unc. Finish. That said as a nickel you may still desire the satin finish for your collection .Only found in the mint set.

 

punt

 

It's never been a better time to do what you are thinking of, filling up those holes in your Dansco's. Proof set sales have been in the dumper for at least the past 3 years and older ones are dirt cheap. ( I'm speaking clad sets here). It's sad but the U.S. Mint is still selling Presidential Mint sets all the way back to 2011. And it's probably TV hawkers buying up large numbers of these sets at this point. Many sets from 1971 and up are in the $3.00-$5.00 range. I for one, am personally done with regular yearly sets at the finish of the ATB quarters and Presidential series and am now focused on completing my classic series and key coins. But hey, I am 61 and the clock is ticking, each to their own. And said with a smile.

 

I've been buying them since I was a kid.

 

Now your just a big kid, I know I am ..................

 

I have been a regular buyer of proof and uncirculated sets since 1976 at age 16. Same for modern commemoratives since 1982.