NIFC Noob Question

According to the US Mint online catalog, regarding the 2012 Uncirculating Mint Set: "United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image." I don't know if this is true of all years, but there are also the modern dollars struck with a satin finish and included in Special Mint Sets (SMS coins). In my experience, you can get most years of the uncirculated mint sets for a reasonable price on ebay.

Don't forget about the forthcoming batches of ATB Quarters that are mintmarked in San Francisco. They are NIFC also. An argument could also be made for the American Eagle program. Who's going to take a 1/10 ounce coin down to the local grocery store for a loaf of bread or a six pack? Definitely not I.

I think that some individuals order more than they want to keep from the mint. They then go through and cherry pick the nicer ones and then dump the rest. Still Lookin.

There are many other reasons why NCLT coins enter circulation anyway.

- A coin collection may be inherited by someone who does not understand that the coins in the sets are in any way "special", and simply spends them as money.

- A child or other family member in need of some quick cash may "borrow" a coin from a set, again not realising that those coins shouldn't be spent and can't easily be replaced.

- A coin collection may be stolen; the thief knows only that the coins look just like normal money, so they spend them.

- A proof or mint set might be damaged in some kind of natural disaster (fire, flood, etc), such that the coins become near-worthless as collectables. In such a circumstance, being used as spending money may have been their best recompense for their loss.

- Some collectors buy NCLT coins and deliberately take a loss by spending them, merely in the hope that someone receiving the unusual coin in change might notice it and catch the coin collecting bug.