With the advent of the 2005 Mint Uncirculated Set, the US Mint stopped putting regular circulation strike coins into Mint Sets. Up until that point, Dealers (as well as many collectors) would break up Mint Sets for high quality uncirculated examples of each coin every year to put into their collections and albums. Problem is, with the Mint Set coins now having a special satin finish they are clearly different from the regular circulation strike coins. For a collection to now truly be complete, not only do you need a proof coin, and a satin finish mint set coin, but now you also need a regular circulation strike example. My question is, where do you find the circulation strikes for your collection? Do you pull an example out of pocket change as you find them? Do you not bother with a "business strike"? Do you break open rolls from the mint bought at a premium (as in the case of Sacs, Presidents and Kennedys) ? How do you get yours?
I used to spend a lot of time looking for gems and variaties issued for circulation. It's hard work and you often won't find much of anything at all. The trick is to look for really nice coins in circulation and then trace them back to the bank they came from (just ask the clerk what bank the store uses). But some years you'll see only a small handfull of nice coins and they might not be traceable. You'll end up doing a lot of heavy lifting and running around. It was worth it for me overall. Today the opportunity is probably far greater since this will be the only source for gems in the future and few people are doing it. Without the many gems always available in the mint sets the huge demand now days will have to turn to the singles and rolls set aside. I keep asking around to get rolls of new dimes but this has been getting harder and harder for many years. Even back before 1984 some banks simply wouldn't cooperate. Once people quit setting aside new coins in 1965 the mechanism for supplying the coins simply began failing.
The bank. Talk to some tellers and they can inform u when new coins arrive. Gotta love payin' face value.
how?. when?. where?. what?. as a collector, stick to the collection what you want it. not what other people like it. after all, you are the only person keep them and watch them. remember, collector keep coins not for selling. as for investor. then that's another story.
Do you break open the rolls and search for the best coin contained within for your album, or do you save the entire roll?
Mike has a point though. Some of these business strike coins will be more valuable than their satin counterparts. Eventually the albums will have holes for both and collectors will ask, "where do I get those".
Some people search through mint sets looking for coins that DON'T show the satin finish well and submit them trying to get them slabbed as high grade business strikes.
I definitely agree! In addition to the Satin Finish Mint Sets, I started getting an UNC. roll of all business strikes available from local banks (D Mints) and a roll of all P Mint Marks from dealers each year beginning in 2005. Also, each year I have purchased rolls of Kennedy halves and Sac dollars from the U.S. Mint.
I been luck since 1962 I have a US Mint subscription for 4 mint set a 4 proof set and the proof AME since 1986. Plus here I have a very good friend of 28yr that own the largest coin shop south of Nashville TN He is also a vet and great note appraiser & collector too!
Dan, Mike, I have to somewhat agree with your point but I just don't buy into that logic of adding a third hole to my albums.....just not for me. As for business strikes ever becoming really valuable in the future...nah, don't think so. Too many millions minted.
but if there's millions of them and they almost all become circulated, then hi grade circulation strikes will become quite scarce. Evidence the 1982 and 1983 quarters. No real source of UNC coins, so a MS-65 sells for a hefty premium. I'm not saying that they are the next great thing, but it makes sense that they will become desirable, and I see no mint source for these coins.
Mike you have a very good point. there is hardy any 1c,5c,10c roll at bank that solid date roll so unc rolled coins maybe the next rarity !
That where most of my unc+ non satin coin come from. and this year its been slim pickens for 2008 1c 5c 10c but and overflow of State Quarters.
The mint has only offered a subscription service for the past three or four years. I think what you mean is that you have been on their mailing list since back then.
