US Mint Sets - What Do You Guys Do?

Many people "crack em' to put into albums........and many crack "proof sets" to put into albums too !...
For many, putting the best example of a particular coin into the album is the MOST important thing......thus the finished project is a shining offering of really nice coins and the value to the album is much higher than "uncirculated" coins (or various levels of lower grades).......so you'll get opinions on either way I'm sure........some will say crack em' and some will say to leave the sets intact.
Those who put "proof" coins in their albums will have no problem breaking an uncirc. set to do so.......and some collectors would NEVER do that because their collection is partly "U.S.Mint packaged sets"!.....So really, it boils down to your personal preference.........albums.....sets.......or both.....your choice.
Personally..IMHO...the uncirculated sets aren't going to ever carry a "huge" premium over the "issue price".....so
(But I collect them too !....and I like the idea of doing "both" !).....

Chaotech....

quote:

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As for proofs, I wont crack a proof set...

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I can't get myself to crack a "proof set" either !.....
But for those who do, including some of our Moderators, it makes for quite the showy album with a sweet price value to them I'm sure!
This is also done frequently with "slabbed & graded" coins and the PCGS stickers are kept for identification in the back of the album for records. You can put together some REALLY nice albums this way !...
However.....it wouldn't bug me too much to "crack" a Presidential dollar Proof set !......I'm souring on them and their value, the best thing to do with those proof sets might just be to "crack em' !"....could be the first one's I crack !

To crack or not to crack mint sets -- buy two of each, crack one of them and leave the other intact; most of them really don't cost all that much. Same goes for a lot of proof sets too.

I also am collecting mint sets; I have 1965 to date, and plan on getting the 1959-64 as well; 1959 is the first year mint sets were sold in flat packs.

Everybody crack open mint sets...
That way mine will be more valuable in mint packaging!


J/K

On the other topic, of what to collect...
I am like you, I get pre-defeated just thinking about keys.
So you have listed some easy ones in mint sets, silver proofs, and even prestige sets would be easy enough over a
reasonable time.

One thing I thought of was to pick a "subject" and collect
not one coin, but all the coins of a subject.
I like classic commem halves with ships portrayed on them.
So I was thinking 'it might be easier to collect all classic
commems with ships on them, than to collect every classic commem or even a type set'.

Something like that.
Collect a set of one type of every coin with an indian portrayed. Just for another idea. The 10 dollar gold would
be the most expensive, but you can find them in "types"
rather than zeroing in on a date.

Just some thoughts.

For coin sets, Roos dimes and Franklins don't have any
'serious' keys, do they? At least the silverRoos
anyway.

I don't have a problem breaking open mint sets for albums. I do buy an extra one to put away so that I have a continuous series. The only proofs I've been able to bring myself to break open are some Bald Eagle, Mt. Rushmore, and Yellowstone coins for the 7070 - I like those too much to hide away.

Reference key date coins, I'm getting close to only needing 3 Lincoln Cents - you can guess which ones. However, my wife made a big mistake by buying me a 1933D in BU condition. It sure looks shiny next to those 1909-1939 brown coins. It will bug me forever if I put it in the album next to the others and I'll have to buy more BU's. It never ends.

Tough question...but I think you have your answer. I have a tough time buying a proof or mint set because I am not collecting all those coins and I could use the money on something else. But at the same time, it is nice to buy them so I feel as if I have a complete set of something. Depending on what it is I would break it open for a single coin, but that is just because I do not collect proofs or mint sets. The idea of buying two is great, but can get real expensive also. So in other words, do what you want to do and put your sets together the way you want them to be.

Mint sets from the 50's and forward are just awesome. Once you get to the late 50's they are very affordable. Late 60's and on and they are downright undervalued. You get awesome well struck examples for little money.

It seems like mint sets in OGP are still easy to find. Their being priced lower than the individual coins will continue until that changes.