I like the older mint/ proof sets but I am somewhat confused by the wording. I see sets labels as Mint Proof Sets S. I see mint proof sets silver. I see some labeled just mint or proof sets. What is the best way to go. Only silver proof mint sets? Are all the coins silver except the cent or only the half? What are the scams to watch for? I have been looking for sets in the 50's and 60's my childhood years, but I also see 2012 as a hot set. Thoughts? What do you look for or save?
Here is a good source for you. Scroll down to the bottom and it will give you options to look at, the ones that were produced each year, how many were produced, and facts about the sets. It's a good source to start with. https://mycoinguides.com/listing-of-coin-guide
Mints vs proofs. What exactly is the difference? In simple terms, the difference between Mint Sets and Proof Sets is the method of manufacture. Proof coins are made with specially prepared planchets and dies. Both are polished but the planchets less so than the dies. Proof coins are struck on special presses, at higher pressure, and struck more than once. Sometimes the Proofs are struck in gold, silver, and clad metals. They can represent the coins used in circulation as well as commemoratives and special collector issues. Proofs today come in 4 basic finishes - brilliant, which is the most common, satin, matte, and reverse. The reverse Proofs have only been being made for, I dunno, the last decade or so. But the other 3 finished have been used at one time or another for as long as they have been making Proofs. Mint Sets are a bit different. I cannot recall the exact date but it was in the early 90's. Prior to that date the coins in Mint Sets were simply pulled from the coins being struck for circulation, assembled, packaged and sold. After that date the coins in Mint Sets were made in a separate process and on different presses than the coins being minted for circulation. There is/was no special preparation done to the planchets but the dies were polished to the same degree as coins being struck for circulation. Once struck they are handled more carefully, assembled, packaged and sold. And they are/were always struck in the same metals as the coins being struck for circulation. That's entirely up to you, in other words go with whatever you like. If you're asking about value - that's all over the map and can vary greatly from year to year. As a general rule coins are just about the worst "investment" one could ever make. It can be said with a certain degree of certainty that about 95% of collectors lose money if and when they sell their collections. Therefore about the only valid reason there is to collect coins is because you like them.
And the confusion you see in the descriptions is from the sellers not knowing what they are or what to call them. Unfortunately the unknowledgeable will sometimes use the terms Mint Set and Proof Set interchangeably. Then to add to the confusion there are proof sets that are just base metal coins, and there are proof sets of the same year that have silver coins in them. SO you can have proof sets and silver proof sets. Then some people will call pre-1965 proof sets "silver" proof sets because they have silver coins in them, but ALL pre 1965 proof sets have silver coins so their is no need to call them "silver". And then you add into the mix, in some later years there are Prestige Proof sets (These are clad coin sets with a proof silver commemorative dollar in them), and Premier Proof sets, which are silver proof sets in a special fancy clamshell case. And then there are Limited Edition Proof sets! Not to mention Reverse proof sets.
