Presidential Dollar Questions

I may be reading too much in to the product descriptions, but I think there may be quality differences in the coins. The eight coins set description reads "Each eight-coin set features four uncirculated Presidential $1 Coins from the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia and four uncirculated Presidential $1 Coins from the U.S. Mint at Denver." The four coin set description reads "These coins have a circulating finish but have never been placed into circulation." Since the US Mint set coins have what they call the "brilliant" finish (basically higher pressure using newer dies) and the rolled coins have a lesser circulating quality, I'm guessing that the eight coin sets have the brilliant finish and the four coin sets have the lesser circulating quality finish. But, I could be all wrong. Perhaps someone who knows for sure can chime in. But, that doesn't really answer your question. Why would someone pay more per coin for less quality?

The description from the mint set says "Produced in special presses, these uncirculated coins feature sharp, intricate details." This is the "brilliant" finish they refer to in the following press release.
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/?ac...ease&ID=1186
The markup over face value for the mint sets is 2.09. The markup over face value for the eight dollar coin set you purchased is 2.11. If the eight dollar coin set does in fact have coins of the same quality, then I think it's a good value.

I think, after looking at the site, this may be the case - "brilliant" finish vs. regular circulation finish.

The eight coin set is a subset of the Annual Uncirculated Mint Set. These coins are better than circulation strikes. They are minted with higher pressure and slower speed, they also receive better handling before and after striking.

I assume the four coin sets are subsets of the eight coin set. It makes sense for the four coin sets to be priced higher, or else smart people will just buy the two four coin sets instead on one eight coin set. Remember, two four coin sets have more packaging and handling costs than the single eight coin set.

Up until now the only the ATB Quarters were offered in two different ten coin sets, one uncirculated (from the mint set production) and the other circulating (from the business strike production). They offer the circulating set because, unlike the Statehood Quarters, there is no guarantee the business strike coins will make it to your local banks. I like collecting from circulation and if it were not for the circulating coins set, I would have filled very few P & D holes in my ATB album.

Anyway, I find it odd that they would issue the circulating quality dollars in two four coin sets. They should make it an eight coin set, to be in line with how ATB Quarters are packaged. This wold make better sense because the target customer is someone like me who wants circulation coins, but are unable to get them in circulation (the dollars being NIFC make them even more difficult than the quarters). Why wold anyone pay more for a lesser quality coin?

This is one ignorant product decision, unless the four coin sets are actually uncirculated and the marketing material is incorrect.

Agreed, that is what has me perplexed. Either this program was added to take advantage of the overall popularity of this year's presidents or to finally make it easier for the "must have all variations" collctors to get circulation dollars since they went NIFC.

Not me.

Do not sweat the necro-bump. We all want answers to this one.

Force - Even though the thread is Presidential Dollar Questions - . I want to see those Sac rim problems in living color! Jack