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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,615 |
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
I'm very new to coin collecting and am looking at starting a tradition and buying a set of uncirculated coins each year for each of my kids. I'm wondering which is better to buy for them. A proof set or uncirculated set? Am wondering which might be more valuable down the road for them if they were to decide to sell the coins individually or as a set if any of the coins start selling at premiums. It almost seems like uncirculated is the way to go, but would welcome expert feedback. :)
Thanks in advance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
Currently both older proof and uncirculated are selling for LESS than they cost from the mint, so I don't know if any are good "value" . I recommend you pick the one you like more. I like proofs as they are different than regular coins. But again uncirculated cost less and you get twice the coins (p&d mints) while proof is just s mint.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
The U.S. Mint provides excellent detailed listings of everything they sell. There are many choices offered each year.
If you are intending to buy directly from the mint it very much depends on how much you wish to spend. Last year, in 2018 alone, you would have needed to spend $36,550 to have one of everything they sold. Obviously there are almost no buyers at that level.
Once you've taken some time to review what they offer stop back again with what looks best to you and we can advise much more specifically.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
587 Posts |
I wouldn't choose either for what they might be worth one day.
For gifts to kids, I would select proof sets, and leave the p and d mint coins for pocket change searches.
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New Member
 United States
42 Posts |
I guess what I'm looking for are uncirculated type coins that are in excellent condition in that perhaps way down the road individually, some of those coins might be in demand or sell for a premium. Wondering individually, are proof coins or uncirculated individual coins a better investment long term.
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Valued Member
United States
425 Posts |
I have never bought the uncirculated sets or proof sets for their potential value down the line. I buy them for their beauty and representation of the coins struck by the United States Mint. I do buy a proof set, silver proof set and uncirculated set each year. I should note that a proof is a method of striking a coin, whereas an uncirculated is a grade of the coin struck. Uncirculated sets will be cheaper, with more coins (Denver and Philadelphia strikes), whereas Proof sets historically have sold more and have less coins (San Francisco strikes). Of course there is that West Point coin and multiple quarters each year to contend with.
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
I'm just looking at the standard coins. Penny, Nickel, Dime and Quarter. For example the set this year comes with a W penny and I'm guessing that is worth it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Complicated subject, like comparing apples and oranges. Whatever you decide, don't do it for the "investment" potential. Proof sets (including the half dollar) from over 60 years ago are still available for around $20.  to the CCF! |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Wondering individually, are proof coins or uncirculated individual coins a better investment long term. Neither are good investments from the mint. The price will likely go down and the quality can be so so. The after market you can pick them yourself and potentially create some upside with the uncirculated coins. There's no upside on the normal proof sets now. There's enough of them that enough 70s will get graded and the big boys can get those graded dirt cheap which also keeps the prices down. The uncirculated most have no upside either. However, the premium business strike examples are worth more and sometimes much more when graded. So if you pick nice sets you could have potentially created upside. Either way the sets themselves have basically no upside unless the mintages drastically decline or something like that. If you like them get them, but they wouldn't be good for investment. If it has to be one of these two get the unciruclated |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
Right now, the market is (and will probably will be forever) flooded with both proof and mint sets. The LCS I worked at just shipped 10 boxes of proof sets and we still have too many. No one is buying right now.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
First thing , you have to realize that proofs are a special method of striking a coin .It is not a grade condition as in uncirculated coins . I believe over the past few years the mint has put out some fantastic looking gem uncirculated coins all denominations . Also the Proof coins in 69-70 are a beauty in the making . So it's your call but if I were you ,for your kids I would give them OBW rolls of all denominations each year . the trick is to salt them away in plastic tubes that are a little bigger than the papered roll .cap tightly closed and tell them not to open them until they are in their adult world . Not very exciting for them but it's almost a sure thing for the long term holding .
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12815 Posts |
A 529 is a much better investment.
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
Thanks for the advice. What about the W Pennies?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
There are going to be as many W pennies as sets of proof/uncirculated are sold. Today they are hot, I believe the price will go down to what a comparable proof penny costs so a few dollars.
I got 2 W pennies and probably did 25% of the people here. The reverse proof maybe the hardest to get as the mint sells less silver proofs.
Edited by hfjacinto
09/15/2019 2:36 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
A Roth IRA is a good investment if you are young. Other than that, buy the coins you like.
Edited by edweather
09/15/2019 11:01 am
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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What about the W Pennies? The top grade business strikes should do alright. The proofs probably stagnate. The unknown is will the mint do more of these in the future, that can either help or hurt depending on how it is done but generally would cheapen these |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,615 |
Posted 09/14/2019 4:06 pm
