Forgive me if this turns out to be a "dupe" post - direct me to the original. I realize the situation with the Presidential Dollars - that the circulating coin was discontinued last year due to over production and cost saving measures. Also, I believe the Mint's release dates were set last year and based on the circulating coin. Last year's posted release date for the Chester A Arthur was February 16. I pre-ordered two sets from a dealer here in California back in February. I went to order from the Mint in the past week and a half and discovered the Chester A Arthur had slipped to a "Yet To Be Determined"! I did see, back in February, that there were reportedly 1.6 million of the coins minted in Denver and 1.6 million minted in Philly. I went and searched the internet to see if anyone had a more precise update! I got as many answers as I did searches! One person said he ordered a 250 count bag to resell and his check was returned with a letter stating that the program was being discontinued all together! Anyone have any more precise info? If I don't get an answer by April, I think, I am going to seek a refund from my order! I am "bummed" as I was enjoying the set and, like some of you out there, have a Whitman Album with a partially complete set! Also I am wondering where this puts the Native American Dollar for 2012 as that was a beautiful design! Thanks!
I cannot provide any more info than what you already have. As for the release of the coins? Yes, they are wa-a-a-a-y past due and I cannot help but get the feeling that the US Mint is just really screwing this one up! From a collectors standpoint, if enough people lose interest and fail to order the coins from the US Mint, it could turn into a mini-bonanza for those that DO order the coins. Even though only collectors get them, prices could surge once the program starts back up again.
Why are you buying from a dealer and not from the mint? I would think the mint would be less expensive, no? $39.95 per roll at the mint, and I think they're reducing the price for the Arthur rolls. What is your dealer charging?
I suspect since they no longer have to worry about spacing them out for circulation distribution, and since they won't be making nearly as many of them, we will see a release later in the year either of all four at the same time or closely spaced together.
Rumors I'm hearing is the auto ship program (business who signed up to actually circulate them) for prez dollars is suspended this may be how they will get rid of excess inventory, wrapped collector roll or prez sets direct from mint canceled. The only way to get presidential dollars will be mint and proof sets. Reminds me of the Kennedy half in a way only more extreme. In a way makes sense the mint will sell way more mint sets because if people want a set they need twenty sets. Maybe if they made them from copper (almost like a copper eagle lol) and they actually had value people would want them instead of over inflating our currency by printing trillions of dollars coin or bill. Just a thought.
