Here's one example, the short version... 1965 South Africa proof set (7 coins, KM# PS64) Proof set, with case, market value: $12.00 Proof set broken up, total market price of separate coins: $31.00 Heres a little longer version... So I was looking through eBay, and saw a 1965 proof set from South Africa, in the original case, I'm always looking for deals, so I check my KM 2003 Std Catalog of World Coins (a little old but good for general reference...) So one coin, the Rand, has an ASW of .3858oz, so the BV is about $3.11 And checking each coin seperately gives a total market value of $31.00, $20 of which is just the one 1965 proof Rand alone. So broken up, the set it worth $31.00, the Rand having a MV of $20, or a BV of $3.11 BUT... in the South Africa proof set section, (this proof set is KM# PS64) it lists an original issue price (in 1965) of $5.00, and a current market value of $12.00. So this is just one example, theres more, but I'm just curious as to why this is?
If I understand correctly you're asking why a group of Proof coins from a given year sells for more when the coins are sold individually than when they are sold as a set. There is no reason really - that's just how the market works. It's almost always that way with coin sets. There are a few exceptions, but not many. Ever heard the saying - the sum of the parts is larger than the whole ?
The sum value of the parts of most things tend to be greater than the whole. It holds true for automobiles, televisions, computers .... complete coin sets and proof sets. Of course there is additional risk in purchasing the whole and then selling in parts. Instead of selling the whole to one customer - you have to generate a new customer for each individual part.
Lets just say you are a dollar collector and dollars only. What are you willing to pay to get me or someone else to bust my proof set open to sell you that dollar only? And, now I am stuck with a dollar less proof set that I must keep or set around waiting for someone else to purchase one coin at a time. Get the picture? If I am going to do this it is going to cost you! Single coins OUT of proof sets tend to be worth quite a bit more and I don't see that ending anytime soon.
