US Mint Proof And Mint Sets Vs. Coin Albums

Oh I'm not going to be without wha I already have in the way of complete sets of everythng. I have been collecting since I was a boy many many moons ago and have accumulated a lot over the years.
Ill say one thing the Mint and the BEP have not made it very easy with all the additional products and special releases each year. Plus something has to be done about the constant cost increases each year. I understand the precious metals market part, but the costs over face value for the annual products is just crazy.

mangulator, you are right about the cost of the mint sets. That is another reason I don't collect them anymore.
It used to be you get a mint set and a proof set and you were done. Maybe a commemorative or two.
Then it a proof and mint and a silver proof and a commemorative or two.
Now it seems-- and this could also just be my grouchy old guy mentality-- it seems there is a mint, a proof, a silver proof, tons of commemorative, every variation of a quarter or dollar you could think of, plus chronicles, plus this and that.
If I got one of everything the mint was selling, I wouldn't have any money to spend on anything else.

I realize I could just buy what I want and ignore the rest...so that is what I do.

That's what I do... or at least have intention of doing; I have yet to break a single one.

, mangulator!

On this question, you will get a couple different answers.
Because, people lean toward what they have as being the
best. That is not always the case.

I think you will get most saying that Dansco are the best
albums. Because, in my opinion, they are.

You will hear some say they like Whitman because they like
the blue color, or Internet shield (IS) because they like
the green. If you like a particular color over quality,
this might be the way to go.

I have a couple of Whitman, Littleton, one IS and some
other older albums.

But I have around 75 Dansco albums. I feel the quality
of Dansco albums is much better than any of the others.
For me I like the look and quality, I have no problem
with the look, color and feel of Dansco albums. Also
I have had some for 20 to 30 years and have not had any
problems, as far as damage to coins.

As far as selling coins to buy the albums. To me this
hobby is better when you take your time, don't be in
a hurry.

I buy a lot of albums from Wizard coin supply. When you
make orders over $50, they give you a break on shipping.

I would suggest, once your ready to make a order of $50 to
$100, pick out a few albums you want to start with.
Then you can try and fill those albums, and start planning
for the next group. It is fun to watch your collection grow
over the years. And you will learn what you like the most
along the slow path.

I have Dansco albums and I had no problem breaking apart my proof sets to fill them. However, most of the business strike coins came from circulation, so very few mint sets have ever been used.

Your having duplicates of the mint and proof sets should make the decision easier. Do you want to create new albums with better coins, even if it means having some duplicates (with ongoing sets being built)? I would have no problem doing it, but you must see that as just one opinion. Follow your heart.

Yes GR58 Great looking set. I think we might be related LOL! I too have as many Dasco Albums and do prefer them over other brands.

I only asked the question because I have just as many Whittman Albums also along with Harris, Littleton albums and folders.

My Father and my Uncles are why I have been collecting all my life. I have inherited many albums from them over the years and they all seemed to have prefer Wittman albums and folders. Maybe hey had no other choice back then, I don't know.
I can see no difference in quality between Dansco and Whittman. There is a small difference in cost with Whittman being slightly cheaper.
I have five of the best looking albums I have yet to see and they are the single coin only album offered up from Dansco for the Presidential dollars #7186, check it out.

My complaint about the US MINT and BEP stems from my desire to pass along to each of my Grandchildren complete sets of products. It use to be Mint Sets ad Proof Sets along with Eagle and other Prestige Sets. Now with all the additional coins it's hard to keep up. I have been ordering five sets of each just for my Grandkids, hats not counting my own sets. It seems like every year we have another set added. I read that the ATB can go around twice, I don't think I'll be around to complete the second round. In 2009 the Mint and Prof Sets were the largest ever produced! Then you have these regular issues coming out with reverse proof or west point coins or buried sets. It use to be to fill a set you may have a few variety types and if you really wanted a complete set you had to spend a small fortune for issues with missing mint marks etc. Now the Eagle program is a mess.
The same goes with the BEP. They use to offer some nice premium products, but now if you want something it's a mad scramble and if your lucky you get wha you ordered but you better be fast on the computer. Plus the cost! Example $7.95 for a single $2.00 year note plus shipping!
The same with year sets at the post office. Every year the sets get larger and cost more and more!

Sorry about going off on rant there. It just seems that ever since the State Quarter Program started the government has found a way to make money from making money! LOL!

Personally I'm split on Dansco/Whitman. I have plenty of each. I prefer the look of the blue and the font used on the covers over the Whitmans, but I do think the Danscos are a bit better quality. Generally I've been using Whitmans for my "from circulation" collections and Danscos for my "UNC/from sets" collections.

And yes, the sheer volume of products the mint puts out annually makes it impossible for the casual (or even serious) collector to keep up. Pick and choose your products, I suppose. There's an article lamenting this in the August 2015 issue of "COINAge". It states that back in 2006, it would have cost around $26,500 to buy one of everything coin- and bullion-related from the mint. I can only imagine what that's up to in 2015.

NCLT issues are not on the books as being in circulation.


Only the mint has an actual profit and it is turned over to the general fund.