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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 8168165, member: 112&quot;]Mints vs proofs. What exactly is the difference?</p><p><br /></p><p>In simple terms, the difference between Mint Sets and Proof Sets is the method of manufacture. </p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mint Sets are a bit different. I cannot recall the exact date but it was in the early 90&#039;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.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>That&#039;s entirely up to you, in other words go with whatever you like. If you&#039;re asking about value - that&#039;s all over the map and can vary greatly from year to year. As a general rule coins are just about the worst &quot;investment&quot; 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.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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