2025 Congratulations Set

In my own view, the coin+the OGP constitutes a set. But I definitely see your point of view, too. I understand your position. I guess since I have them all, I'd sort of hate to skip it. I could wait for the aftermarket to offer it for less. Most of mine were both in the aftermarket, since I didn't really get serious about collecting ASEs until around, mmmmm, 2019-2020. But I like the coins and the OGP both. Plus to me, you have more week defined goals. It gets wonky in my mind trying to determine what your goals even are when you turn to the slab/graded side. A. Chasing a specific grade. B. Chasing a specific label, and then C. There are so many different OGP combinations that will NEVER even be slabbed. So my own preference is just go for the complete OGP sets. Takes up more room. But I am content knowing I have all the sets with complete OGP. So that's my start of the discussion.




I don't really know how I feel. On one hand, everything has been pretty stale in the ASE world since 2021.
The RCM has been doing various things with their
SML for quite awhile now. Various anti-counterfeit features that are actually cool. Ultra high relief, Privies.
So I don't know if the mint is intending to follow suit, if that's where this is coming from? Look at some of the Maple leafs from the last maybe 10+ years. Some are cool, I have a few. I guess the mint could do that. At least it's something to talk about, it's been so dead the last few years.
The SML I live the most is really tastefully don't, that was called the Tailored Finish, the mint could definitely do that one for me. I think they may have used that finish since then as well. It is a "W" mintmark, in their case means the Winnipeg Mint.

I did reply to that already in the reply above

Oh, alright.
I'm not sure how the first privy (other than the V75) really came about.
Did Nice Gang approach the Mint? Or the other way around? There may be research that could come up with that answer. So I'm really unsure why exactly the ASE was chosen in that case. I'd venture to guess it was partly because of the inherent silver value, the size and denomination, that it isn't considered a circulating coin, because the Mint wasn't going to just make them a medal, because Nice Gang wanted a US Mint coin. That would be my top explanations, any combination thereof or none of the above could be the truth.
They didn't want to just privy mark a Sacaguea dollar, they wanted something a bit more exclusive and with the ounce of silver going for it.
As to the proofs next year, maybe they see a market for it. Maybe they wanted a coin and not another medal and maybe it doesn't take an act of Congress to do a Privy ASE because it's not substantially a new or different coin? That thought I really like! Did the Mint find a loophole?
So there's a few thoughts on the Privy ASEs.

(edited for clarity)

I know this is all just good natured conversation, and you're not going to get me ruffled, coming from a large family.

I do see your point, again.
In no other "numismatic circumstance" can I think of is a coin and ASE considered a set.
One very expensive and several other notable ASEs were issued alone and weren't considered sets, such as the 2019 S ERP being the first that comes to mind, then there was the 2020 V75 privy ASE. There are others. Usually a set we'd consider the various anniversary sets. The 10th with it's single ASE and 4 AGE, the 25th with 5 ASEs only, we all get what a set typically is. Even sets with one ASE and then other US Mint coinage, the Limited Edition set or when they had the Uncirculated Dollar sets.
So swinging back to the Congratulations Set. Yes it is just the single ASE, which doesn't really, in most people's mind, really constitute a set.
You can somehow reason in your mind, at least up until next year (more on that) that the OGP really is way different than the normal proof releases.
I thought it was great the few years we went through where they didn't use a clamshell case for the normal releases, but the Congrats set stayed the same as before. So, there is that, that they didn't look like the regular proof ASE, but yes, still just one ASE.
Now next year, they are going into a clamshell. We don't really have a choice, the Mint decided this is what they wanted to do, and I really can't fault them. In a way, it was getting a little stale. This is the longest running ASE release. With the exception of the 2017S version, very little to be excited about, besides rarity of a few of them, if you are into either OGP or graded examples, no difference.
But by the same token, it still is different OGP than the normal clamshell release, so it still does have that going for it.
I'll end with one other thought.
No matter what we may choose to call it, the US Mint is still the one making the coins and releasing them. If THEY choose to call it a set, who are WE to argue the point?

Thanks for the explanation. I honestly did not understand what the term "Congratulations" referred to.

I did explain that to him, assuming he may have been serious. Not everyone is into the ASE program that much, or he just didn't remember the title of the thread, "2025 Congratulations Set".
In reference to your reply, these are still just marketed by the Mint as a present or congratulatory award.
They've never even attempted to address these as a strict numismatic collectible item.
I feel for the most part, they are numismatic items though, collected in the OGP or sent for grading to get the label. I have never seen one that seems like it was presented to anyone. Possibly people get them, not really knowing, who take out the coin and either sell it or even spend it (kids or just really dumb people).
EDIT up until only a few years ago, they sold one or two very similarly packaged sets for I believe birthdays and/or birth year sets? I remember them having balloons instead of ribbons. These were what you really could call a set as I believe they were a sweet of coins from that year similar to a mint set, but no ASE or silver I don't believe. They did end that without explanation I believe late last decade or early this decade

If presented properly, I agree, I'd find it a good present. Mrs Gilly has the opinion I'm trying to get someone else into my hoarding habits and I don't think I've ever given, oops that's right about a month ago I gave a 2001 raw ASE to a nephew who was born that year. He at least seems curious about my ASE collection, but is into baseball and football cards. Which is a related hobby.
Interesting that you say you've given these sets as presents. Guess that shuts me up. #128517;