Today, I decided to look at an old Coin and Chronicles Set I purchased back in 2006. It was the Benjamin Franklin Coin and Chronicles set. I never opened up the set and decided to do so today. I remember purchasing this set, mainly because Benjamin Franklin is one of my favorite historical figures who was larger than life. I peeled back the cellophane cover and opened up the set. It included a intaglio print, 4 commemorative stamps, and a copy of Poor Richards Almanac (printed on the same paper once used and bound in the style of the 1700's). This set also includes a Benjamin Franklin Scientist Uncirculated Silver Dollar. It is a small set, but it includes products from 4 different government agencies. As a whole, it is a well put together set.
In 2005 I purchased the John Marshall Coin and Chronicles set. I never opened the set up. I remember the total mintage being below 30,000 pieces. It was not a heavily purchased product, even though it came with other bells and whistles besides the John Marshall Dollar. This set proved to be a dud. It never sold out and was pulled from the U.S. Mint's catalog in December of that year. I Sold my set for a loss of $20.00. I was lucky to sell the set since there was little interest for it on the secondary market.
The Lincoln Coin and Chronicles set is something different. Like the Benjamin Franklin Coin and Chronicles set, the Lincoln set was eagerly awaited by the public. When the set was finally released, it reportedly sold out in under 30 hours. As of this writing, one can still place their name on a wait list. This doesn't guarantee that they will get one, but if an order gets cancelled, then it may be possible to become the next person in line.
I haven't received my set yet. Actually the set is going to be a gift for my young son. Because of the limit of one per household, I was unable to order one for myself.
This set appears to be one of the hottest collectible of the year with some sets selling in the $100.00 to $150.00 range. So the next question one might ask is, "what is the long term investment on this product." All the coins in the set can be easily obtained by purchasing the 4 Proof Cents and the Proof Dollar separately. Will this affect the value, maybe not.
Abraham Lincoln Cents are the most collectible U.S. coins to date. Benjamin
Franklin halves are also very collectible, but no where on the same level as the
Lincoln Cent. John Marshall's face can only be found on a Commemorative coin. I'm sure most of the general public does not know who he is.
As of today one could purchase a Benjamin Franklin Coin and Chronicles set for around $25.00. This is less than half the issue price in 2006.
The John Marshall Coin and Chronicles set could be purchased for around $35.00. This price is actually an increase of the selling price from a few years ago, but it is still much less than the original issue price.
The Abraham Lincoln Coins and Chronicles set could be a completely different story all together. Here you have an extremely popular President who happens to grace a coin which is still in circulation after 100 years. Did I forget to mention that the
Lincoln Cent is also the most widely collected U.S. coin to date.
While the past performances of Coin and Chronicles sets, can be judged years by the prices they bring on the secondary market, the Lincoln Coin and Chronicles set may be the exception.
With a mintage of only 50,000 and a 1 per household limit, we may see many of those sold, never making it on the secondary market. If this happens, this set could remain highly sought after for many years to come.
Posted 10/22/2009 3:13 pm
