Older proof sets or modern sets. Yeah, the modern sets are quite the rabbit hole. Older proof sets can be the carrot the brings the rabbit out of the hole.
I have most of the 80s / 90s US Mint Proof Prestige Sets, they are often available cheap ($30-40) and they have lovely coins in my view, I like the commemorative silver dollars.
Maybe the high prices of the new sets will drag the prices up on the older stuff. Don't think that's going to happen but it would be cool if it did.
Yea probably not Larry. It's a shame that you have coin sets never put into circulation but basically made for the collector population and they are worth less than what you bought them for.
I have heard that the mint is going to charge over $100 for the new silver Proof sets. That might have me waiting to buy them in the secondary market with the hope the the prices will drop in a couple years. The trouble is the low mintages might turn them into "investment material" which drive the prices up. I guess I'm unusual. I like Proof sets. They are an easy way to have a continuing year set.
Ditto here too! I have proof sets from 1955 to 2020. The price increases will halt my proof collection to 2020. The mint prices have just gotten out of hand for a product that looses value as soon as it leaves the mint and never rebounds.
Most of these proof sets are older, not US and not that well kept. Along with some sets, I have found single uncirculated coins in cases with paperwork. Some are commemorative like an anniversary Mount Rushmore half dollar. I found a small stack of CCCP 1980 Olympics. A few from Iran, Singapore. A Jamaican from the Franklin Mint. Way too many to list. Like I said, deeper rabbit hole.
Some of those world proof sets can be worth a significant amount. IF you can find the right buyer. Used to be that were all dirt cheap, but many of them have increased significantly.
I have all the great proof sets from the 70's, 80's and 90's . The 2000's I started to get a little smarter and only have one from here and one from there. I do not buy the proof sets at all anymore, since 2013 at least. The mint raped me, willingly I must say, long enough. I selectively, very selectively, buy the limited issue offerings if I can get lucky with the disastrous online process they subject us to. I'm sooooo over the US Mint for closing in on 20 years now. I only got a little bit smart a lot too late.
Let me add to my rant from above. I am very disappointed stopping my acquisitions of proof sets. I truly do love them. I just can't justify throwing my money away any longer.