I just ordered this set last night from the mint since a friend of mine told me it would be a decent future investment. Can someone please explain why the silver proof sets for 2019 include the special penny in a separate package? I hear a lot of hype about these sets but nobody explains why. Thanks.
Hype is all about that penny First West Point minted Lincoln. From what I've heard, it's hard to get a nice example even in the proof sets. Many are splotchy. If yours is nice and unblemished, could be a good investment.
I think it has something to do with the marketing ploy that the Mint is using. Technically, you're "buying" the Proof Set and they're 'giving you' the "W" cent for "free". That plus it wouldn't really look right in the holder with the "normal" coins.
I also feel like they could have made the silver set more special, like creating the penny from bronze. You have all of these non-clad coins and a regular penny.
It is a marketing ploy as Doug.... said. Mine came yesterday. The Reverse Proof W cent is perfect, not like the Proof W that had a slight smug on the coin. A very nice coin. I hope the Mint State W cent is as nice as the Reverse Proof.
Both replies are correct. The West point minted cent is a loss leader. An added enticement to get you to purchase the set. The cent you will get is the reverse proof. I haven't heard anything but good things about the reverse proof cent. It is suppoed to be quite the stunner.
The mint is looking for more ways to get more business and stimulate the hobby. Some of it might be good, but it could also turn into an overload where collectors get overwhelmed from too much new stuff.
Right. Personally, I thought the coins and chronicles sets were cool and they did actually sell out quick.
There are 3 free Cents included in the normal Mint sets this year. The first was a proof, the second is a reverse proof and for the life of me I can't remember the third. Buying the set is the only way one can buy these. Hype on the after market will drive prices up for a short time then they will settle down to reality.
Because the decision to include them was made too late to have new holders made up in time to include them in the set with the other coins. Plus they probably had the other holders already which would have meant junking them and losing the money spent on them. Same reason the 1971 and 72 Ikes weren't in the proof set (71 came too late and too many left over 1971 holders in 1972), the 1979 SBA is in a clear plastic ring in the 1979 set (using up 1978 holders with the large size hole), and the 1982 set has a treasury medal in it (using up 1981 holders that had a small dollar hole).
Got mine, too. The penny (cent, whatever) was just flopping around in the box, the plastic baggie was never sealed . Sorry for the bad pics but you've all seen reverse proofs by now...
If you supposedly take so much care in the production of a proof. Special planchets, special dies, etc. Why then are they so lazy, sloppy and irresponsible when it comes to shipping an item they spent so much time and money being extra careful with?
The comical part (to me) is that they go to the bother and expense to include both a plastic bag and a paper envelope to contain the cent, then deliver the package with the coin rattling around in the box not using either
.999 vs .900 is pointless as the premium you pay far exceeds the value of the silver content. And if you are paying for the novelty of never before seen silver content, then might as well make it .500 silver and it will be just as rare.