Just read this article at coin news. http://www.coinnews.net/2015/12/08/us-mint-to-stop-making-90-silver-coins/ So either this year or next year we'll be getting 99.9% silver coins in our silver proof sets. Not that the price is still too high but at least we're getting a little more silver for our money!!
It's just another ploy to justify a price increase from the Mint. When silver started rising in price, the Mint followed suit, but how many price reductions have occurred since silver began dropping in price? So, by increasing the silver content, they can squeeze a little more from the buying public. Chris
I hope that doesn't happen. That would really be an edited to collectors that have been loyal to the US Mint. I guess time will tell.
I had been one of those "stupid but loyal" customers for years, and the Mint kept shoving new crap down our throats. I decided enough was enough when they changed the design of the Sac $ and then charged ridiculous prices for SAE Anniversary Sets. I cancelled all of the subscriptions I'd had since the late 90's. I had been spending about $8K a year. Do you think the Mint cared? Hell no! A couple months later, they sent me a questionnaire asking if I was happy with their service. Chris
I can honestly say that Mint products have given me much joy over the years in my hobby. But when the current quarter series ends, that will be the end of my proof/mint set purchases. It's not that I could not afford to continue but one has to say when at some time. Besides being a bad overall purchase seeing how the prices of these folded over the years, it just is not worth the effort anymore. I'll focus as I am now on my classic series of 19th century coins and continue my hunt for errors.
From my understanding, the .999 blanks should be easier and actually cheaper to obtain than the .900 blanks. This could theoretically lead to lower prices. But we know the government does not like to pass on savings to us.
Well (according to the article), since they've already begun to strike the 2016 products, I wonder if maybe , perhaps, we'll have two metal content coins?
50% and 80% Canadian Silver anyone? I really hope they don't do an inter-year transition. They would be smart to just do a complete transition all in one year, or mint the proofs in the current 90% and the silver mint set's in the new 99.9%. Don't make some proofs 90% and others 99.9%.
Since they have already been striking the 90% silver proofs, anyone see the possibility they will sell 90% silver proof sets and then "suddenly" later in the year offer "special" .999 fine silver proof sets later in the year? Get us all buying two silver proof sets this year. (From their point of view has to be better than selling us one set this year and one set next year. Sell us TWO sets this year and one next year.) I also like their great "discovery" comparing the proof commemorative dollar and proof ASE. Wow they discovered that when you add copper to the silver, to make a harder more durable alloy, it makes a harder and more durable alloy which shortens die life! And it means you have to service the dies more often!
"Loyal"? The type of "loyalty" you are referring to is only in your mind since I seriously doubt that the US Mint would ever have a product offering solely for it's "Loyal" customers. Unless, of course, you consider that crappy US Mint Bag which they sent out a few years back but then, everybody got one of those. New or Old customers. I guess I just find it odd that the term "loyal" is used since it's not like the US Mint ever handed out any favors or even any type of recognition for "long time, loyal" US Mint customers? Free US Mint conventions for customers which have ordered US Mint products consistently for say, 10 consecutive years? A special "luncheon" at one of the ANA Conventions for long time US Mint customers? Maybe "Parking Validation" when you visit one of their facilities? Special Tours perhaps? Besides, the US Mint is the ONLY source of US Mint products. Of course, there's always the "aftermarket" where you can pickup US Mint products for possibly cheaper than their original issue price but that's a different kind of loyalty. If I were to use the word "loyal", I guess it would be in reference to some other after market business where I continued to buy, at their inflated prices, just because I wanted to do business with them and, should we ever meet, maybe they'd buy "ME" a cup of coffee for my "Loyal Patronage"? Kinda like PCGS sending out their annual calendars? I tell you what, if the US Mint would reimburse me some of the $60.45 I spent in their 2011-W Silver Eagle, I'd believe that they recognize "Loyalty" in their customer base. Especially since the 2011-W Proof version sold for only $59.95. Bottom line, the US Mint simply does not recognize "loyal" customers.
I hear ya! I've got proof sets that I have absolutely no hope of ever selling for what I paid for them. Come to think of it, the ONLY way that products from the US Mint escalate in value, IS IF THE SCREW SOMETHING UP! Either advertising gone sideways, a die manufacturing defect, or some other type of an error. Of course, the only way to get in on the ground floor for such "screw ups" is to order directly from them. My ordering of US Mint products has been cut W-a-a-a-y back from what it had been simply because I got tired of throwing my money away.
I sold my 1999 silver proof quarter set when I needed some money which was before I opened it, and got $300.00 for it some years back. I just repurchased it for $73.00. Which just goes to show ya'...
I hear all of what you are saying... A few years back I started buying other coins like the Mexico Libertads. They are a nice looking coin and their mintages are real low relative to ASEs - especially the proof coins. I have seen them appreciate when silver has not.
