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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;tradernick, post: 18381, member: 648&quot;]I must say I like the tone of this thread.&nbsp; People that are excited about buying from the mint means the hobby is doing well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Several years ago I was advising everyone NOT to buy directly from the mint.&nbsp; Further, many people that I spoke with flatly stated they would never again purchase mint products except from the secondary market.</p><p>The reason?&nbsp; For a long time you could buy mint and proof sets from coin dealers and coin shows for much CHEAPER than the original mint issue price.&nbsp; </p><p>Think about that for a moment.&nbsp; In the late 70&#039;s through the mid/late 80&#039;s, the issue price of proof sets were in the $7 to $11 range.&nbsp; Yet as recently as the mid 90&#039;s you could find boxes and boxes and buckets and stacks and more stacks of these sets for $4 to $6 at any show and most coin shops!&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Some people were so angry that they bought proof sets in the 70&#039;s and 80&#039;s directly from the mint and had to sell at a loss 10 or even 20 years later!&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie4" alt=":mad:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>And who could blame them?&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>So our stance was simply this...don&#039;t buy from the mint...wait a year and buy from us and you&#039;ll get the same product at a better price...a very true statement for its time.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Then something happened.&nbsp; The proof sets from the early 90&#039;s went up in value (frankly I think that&#039;s about the time that a LOT of people stopped buying from the mint but that&#039;s just speculation on my part).&nbsp; Then when the green box sets came out in &#039;94 they were a hot item.&nbsp; Most of the years that followed were hot, too.&nbsp; Then to add fuel to the fire the states quarters program began in 1999.&nbsp; Proof set and mint set prices continued to rise, as did their popularity.&nbsp; Today they are once again riding high, despite huge mintage figures.&nbsp; People buy them and are eager to get duplicates.&nbsp; Everyone loves to talk about the new sets and even more, we all love to show them to our kids, friends, neighbors, coworkers etc.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>This is what coin collecting should be.&nbsp; An immensely enjoyable hobby to be shared with others.&nbsp; 20 or 30 years from now will these sets be worth LESS than the issue price?&nbsp; Is history doomed to repeat itself?</p><p>Could be, but personally I doubt it.&nbsp; The new 9 and 10 pc sets at the turn of the new century have changed proof/mint set collecting forever, IMHO.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway like I said, it&#039;s very nice to see a positive thread like this regarding mint products.</p><p><br /></p><p>Nick[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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