Help Needed For Building A Kennedy Collection

I have a set of 2003 P&D clad halves up on ebay right now... nudge, nudge. Here's the link.

muddler pretty much explained it all.

I am not really sure what Dansco album you have. you said




I am hung up on the words "can hold proof issues as well"
It must be just your way of saying things ... I am thinking you have the Dansco 8166 that has holes for proofs and SMS coins.

The two Dansco albums I have, one is for "P and D" coins, the second has holes for proof issues and the BU "P and D" coins.

The first album was easy for me to complete, but the second album, with the proof coins has been a challenge.

Many of the early mints sets have been picked over, which for me makes it hard to find the 68 and 69 BU coins in good grades. Also for 65,66 and 67 there are only SMS sets, so that makes it hard to find the BU/non SMS, coins for those years. Then there is buying the 1992 to date silver proof sets, for just the half dollar gets expensive. I guess you can see I like to fill my Danscos from sets, but there are chances you can find the coins individually at a better price.

I would like to say that when these sets are completed with nice grade coins, they are very nice sets to have in your collection. I recently seen a completed BU/proof Dansco sell for $1200 at a local coin shop.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Take the time to look for a Red Book by Whitman Publishing. It will explain almost all the things you need to know about US coins.
2. Try places on line if you doh't have access to a coin store, hobby store, coin show for such books and coins.
3. Keep away from places like ebay unless you know what your doing and buying.
4. Do not purchase sets if you only want certain separate coins. However, individual coins from sets usually cost more.
5. There is a place called Wizard Coin Supply on the internet that many coin people say is one of the better, cheaper, most complete places to buy coins and stuff.
6. Get to know the real prices and values of each coin prior to buying them. Many use a web a web site called Numismedia.
7. Again such questions as Silver content, availability in dates, Minted in sets only, etc. are easily found in that Red Book.
8. As a just FYI only, you may want to check out the Whitman web site for other possible books and coin related items. Not a good place to buy from though since they prefer to sell to dealers in bulk. Individual sales are expensive.

In 65, 66 and 67 the mint did not make proof sets (or mint sets), but did make what they called a "Special Mint Set" that was proof-like. These coins have no mint marks and are distinguished only by having a brighter, better quality strike.

So for the 65,66,67 you guys are saying that I can get an SMS set but any other kennedys that year are all out in circulation? No other types of sets to pull from?

Add- all proof coins are S mint.

Coin Chick .. sorry I did not get back to this post and answer your question.
But it looks like you did get your answer.

This series Dansco 8166 really is a challenge, for me, because of all the different sources you have to get the coins. most of the coins can come from Mint sets .. SMS sets... proof sets and silver proof sets.

Problem coins will be, to find better grade 65,66 and 67 BU coins and 1982/1983 "P and D" coins, because there are no mint sets to harvest the coins from. I am starting to think I may have to purchase these coins in slabs, to get the grades I want.

When I am doing a set like this, I go to a good dealer with my list. I have found sometimes it is cheaper to buy a complete proof set vs a single proof coin ... but sometimes it is not.

Also the 2005 to 2010 mint sets have satin finish coins.
Some members don't like mixing satin coins with business strike coins. Some members, like myself, do not mind mixing them. IMO satin finish coins are better grade and have less mintage.