2009 Lincoln Cent Collector Sets

When five coin proof set to be released?

Hey. Does anyone know when the 50,000 limit set with the four proof pennies and the silver dollar will be released? I haven't been able to find a press release or any mention. Thanks!

 

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..........i believe this winter.

 

Sounds correct to me. U.S. MINT ROCKS!!!!!

 

I wish this set had some exclusive coins, perhaps a fifth cent with a wheat reverse and a sixth cent with a memorial reverse.

 

.........the mint and especially congress, makes us all wonder about their rationale on most decisions...............particularly coin designs.

 

How many bought their proof set today?

I work only two blocks from Union Station (in Wash, DC) where the US Mint has a kiosk (that I just learned about recently). It was nice to be able to buy my proof set sans the shipping cost today. But alas, I should have been more careful and brought my loupe and examined them closely. With the clerk, I checked that all four plastic cases were in my set, but I didn't give them nary a look over. Pretty dumb. When I got home, I realized one of the cents has some discoloration streaks (kind of like tiger stripes design), so I will have to stop over and exchange my set tomorrow after work.

The mint employee at the kiosk advised me 'I heard September', when I asked him if he knew when the 50,000 mintage 'Chronicles Set' would be released. I guess we'll see.

I have mixed feelings about the US Mint kiosk (they have a couple of other ones in the city). A disadvantage is that their product selection is very limited: these kiosks are only permitted to sell products that are not subject to household limit quantities. And so while there is a good deal of merchandise on display in the cases (UHR St. Gaudens, commemoratives, etc.) very little of it is for sale. Fortunately, proof/mint sets are available for sale there.

On the flip side, it's nice to be able to ask a live employee for information. For example, if this little 'nugget' about a September release date for the 50,000 limit set is true, it would be nice to know and not anticipate its release all summer.

Anyone else bought anything from one of the mints or their satellite branches? What did you think of your experience?

Cheers,
Richard

 

I also noticed that the US Mint website itself, clearly states that the 'latest commemoratives' are for sale at the Union Station and other kiosks. This is not accurate: I tried to buy a Louis Braille Dollar and was told they are not carried [as they are subject to household limits].

More and more that I think of it, being able to examine the coins you want to buy is a big advantage duhhhh: it really was a rookie mistake for me to not look over the ones I bought today I will definitely not pass up the chance to do so when I exchange my proof set. At least I didn't order by mail and have to go through the rigmarole of having my shipping expenses recompensed. I just wasted a little of my time.

 

Hey Richard -- where do you work? (I'm at 1st and D St NW, just about three blocks away).

Yes, I purchased a few Proof sets today at the kiosk. I find that most of what I'd want to get is available there (except Lincoln cents!) and I love not having to pay shipping/handling, dealing with the web site or Pitney Bowes' delivery system. And, also, one does get, from time to time, some interesting information -- both from the clerks there, or other purchasers.

The guy at the kiosk said they had sold 1000 proof sets already (I was there around 1:30pm)

Richard, I'm not sure if you were aware, but the US Mint shop at 901 H St NW (which carries pretty much the same stuff as the kiosk) also has three change machines -- you stick in money, and it spits out (depending on the machine): the current quarter (Guam right now); the current Pres $1 (Tyler); and the Sac 2009 dollar.

 

'The guy at the kiosk said they had sold 1000 proof sets already (I was there around 1:30pm)'

When I asked him at about 12:15, he told me sales were 'excellent'. I had no idea so many had been sold

'Richard, I'm not sure if you were aware, but the US Mint shop at 901 H St NW (which carries pretty much the same stuff as the kiosk) also has three change machines -- you stick in money, and it spits out (depending on the machine): the current quarter (Guam right now); the current Pres $1 (Tyler); and the Sac 2009 dollar.'

Thanks for the head's up! I didn't know you could get those coins from the change machines

You work very close to Union Station! Do you by any chance ride the red and orange lines to commute from Fairfax? (I do). I work at 500 North Capitol. It's diagonally across the street from the Postal Museum. Small world, huh? I wonder how many other posters live or commute to work in Wash, DC....

 

Yup -- pretty handy!

I do commute from Fairfax! But I'm in a carpool (2-person carpool with my wife, so we can do HOV-2 on 66). . . . . wow, where in Fairfax? (perhaps better answered by PM)

 

If the kiosk is like the sales shop at the mint, and it probably is, it is run by a private concern. So that "live employee" is an employee of the kiosk operator, not the Mint of the government. As such he probably doesn't know any more than we do. Sorry.

 

But I don't think it is. The folks at the kiosk and the folks at the shop at US Mint HQ (9th St) rotate back and forth, and I really that they are US Mint employees. (I gather this from various chatter -- and I recall once one of the women there saying something like "on that day I'll be working with management" or something).

But, next time I go I will ask them specifically.

 

So much is outsourced to the private sector these days, so that it wouldn't surprise me if this is true. I, too, got the sense from the conversation that it was a bona fide mint employee, but I don't know for sure. Anyhoo, if the 'September rumor' turns out to be true, good. If it is false, no worries, either. I'll still be looking for it to release this summer just in case.

 

Why can't the US Mint do things as well as the RCM?

I stopped by the Union Station kiosk the other day and the clerk showed me her US Mint badge and advised me that all working at these 'satellite offices' are bona fide mint employees.

As I was looking at my 2009 Proof set today, I wondered: why doesn't the U.S. Mint make nicer looking framing/packaging for their proof and special sets? I should explain that I also collect Canadian Proof and Specimen sets, and the coins have long come inside a plastic lens (like their US brethren) that is housed in a book-style format. They fit neatly on my book shelf. And if for some reason I would like to do so, the lens holding the coins is detachable from the book. In contrast, ours come in separate lenses that are stored in a flimsy paper box that is usually bent or dinged when you receive it. I just find the presentation value of the products our northern neighbors to be better than our mint's. They just package/display their coins better. And while it's the quality of the coins that is most important to me, no one can dispute that the packaging enhances the presentation of the coins. The effect is kind of like having a nice frame around a good painting.

And don't get me started on the superior technology and quality control of the RCM. With colored coins, holograms special finishes (more than we have) and attractive designs, I think they blow us away. I know what people will say: if I like Canadian coins so much more than those from my country, I should move to Canada I'm just trying to make what I believe is a valid point. Wish the US Mint would get its act more together and be on the cutting edge of things (re: new technology and innovative, appealing designs) instead of being one of the last (for example, Canada had employed the reverse proof finish for years before we got our first in the 2006 ASE set). Maybe the difference is the fact that the RCM is headed by a CEO and run like a private business, whereas ours is a sloth-like government agency with little pressure to adapt and better meet the needs of collectors.

 

I don't know. But I do like those cases that the Canadian specimen sets come in.

 

Its hard to tell what the mint has in mind.