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 Replies: 18 / Views: 7,919 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
I picked up a bunch of proof sets cheap at a pawn shop. How do I know which have no silver content, 40%, or 90 % ? For example, I got a 1988 proof set, purple box 5 piece set, all S mint, silver? Also a 1976 proof set, all S mint, silver? Is there a online resource available?
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
RedBook will tell you which ones are silver. In this case none.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
I hated to reply. None there, you need to do your homework if you are looking for silver. The circulated 90% coins basically stopped in 1964. There are son commems and exceptions but the only silver proof sets are the ones marked "Silver Proof Set". Also, look for some 40%ers in SMS's that were offered in both MS and Proof sets.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
628 Posts |
I got more silver sets than not in the deal. If the box doesn't say "silver" it's not silver, right? But, again, if it is silver, 40%, 90%? Are the proof silver State Quarters 40%, 90%? I bought 2 big boxes of proof and mint sets, the '64 and earlier are no brainers. The composition of the newer date sets is unclear to me. Another example, "United states Bicentennial Silver Uncirculated Set 1776-1976". Mint set I guess? Silver? 1988 S Proof Prestige, has a silver commem dollar, 90%, right? Anyone know of a good online resource for info on U.S. proof and mint sets? Edited by m9frank
01/14/2011 8:00 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
The 1976 sets. If they are the 6 coin (1,5,10,25,50 cent and dollar)considered the regular proof set there is no silver only copper, nickel and clad coins. The 3 coins 1976 sets are 40% silver( 25, 50 cent and dollar) They have both UNC and proof versions. All the coins mentioned above are S mint. Other than the 1976 coins above, the other 40% coins are all Kennedy half dollars from 1965 through 1970. Also from 1971 through 1974 there are blue pack (UNC) and brown box (proof) Ike dollars that are 40%. These Ike dollars come single coins in the above mentioned packages. In 1982 you have the Washington Half dollar commemorative. They were sold in blue box (UNC) and burgundy box (proof) both 90% silver. 1983 to date has commemorative dollars all are 90%, so for the years they put them in prestige sets those dollars are silver (90%) One other 90% silver half dollar is "Bill of Rights" I think the year for that is 1992. As I recently learned starting in 1992 there are two proof sets that have 90% silver. Silver proof set and Premier silver set (both 5 coin sets) I think they both come in black box, but I am not that familiar with the premier set. I do know the purple box sets are clad. The silver black box set went until 1998. Then the red/white boxed silver proof sets started in 1999. This is just how I remember them .. if I posted any info wrong please post the correct info |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
628 Posts |
Thanks goldrush. I appreciate the info.
I'm slowly piecing together info from numismedia and other sites, it's a bit of a slog. I didn't realize how much variety exists within modern US coin sets.
Thanks again.
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Valued Member
United States
94 Posts |
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Redbook will tell you which ones are silver. In this case none. So I went to a shop tonight to look and see if there was anything like this. I found lots of proof sets, actually, or other proof coins (at least they were labelled as such an din the fancy boxes), so I jotted the years down and came home to look in my RedBook. I appear to be looking at it wrong or something, because I can't for the life of me figure out how to tell if these are silver or not. It's pretty disappointing, because it's a touch under spot if it's silver. How can I use the RedBook to figure this out (Rebook has the list price for silver or not silver, but doesn't help me figure out which I have). EDIT: If it helps this is what I found: 1971 Ike proof in a big box 1972 Ike Proof in a big box 1973 Ike proof in a big box 1978 and 1977 "proof sets" with Ike and the other coins in hard plastic 1972 "proof set" with no Ike in hard plastic 1961, 62, 63, and 64 "proof sets" that are sealed in like celophane with no ikes, but the other coins are in there. Edited by rawmeat
04/14/2011 7:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Why would you not just ask the proprietor? I'm sure they know and would have the coins priced appropriately in regard to silver/clad.
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Valued Member
United States
94 Posts |
Sorry, it was an antique mall that I drive by everyday. As I went past, I was like "ya know, people probably mark up their silver a ton, but if they had it at unreasonable prices before, it's probably cheap now." And, like, I thought by getting the RedBook I could figure this stuff out on my own :( |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Ike dollars were made from 1971 - 1978 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 had Brown box S mint proofs, silver 40% Blue pack S mint UNC, silver 40% Each of these have a single coin (Ike) to each package. In 1975 and 1976 there were bicentennial three coin sets (quarter, half dollar and dollar) The proofs came in a small book like album, the 3 coins all in their own airtight type capsule. The UNC's came in a red envelope, the three coins were sealed in a soft mylar pack. All three coins in these sets are 40% silver. The regular proof sets you mentioned, 1972, 1977 and 1978 did not have any silver coins. Regular proof sets, are those that have a proof example of each denomination. I believe the Red Book will state "silver" when there is both a silver and clad version available for that given year. I don't have my Red Book right here .. but if you look up proof sets .. 1997 you should see proof set, silver proof set and I think silver premier set. When you are talking about 1964 and older sets the Red Book will not state silver, because they are all silver sets. FYI - the 1973 S (brown box) 40% proof Ike is considered the key to the Ike series dollars.
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Valued Member
United States
94 Posts |
Man, thanks goldrush. This is harder than I thought it would be! I think that means these are good buys. Especially since there are like 5 each of the 71 and 72. I wish I knew about isreali coins and other random countries -- there is a bin full of those there as well -- but apparently I don't even know about US coins yet! |
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
None of the sets you have mentioned would be 90% silver. A RedBook would be very handy for you, especially if you plan to continue to collect proof sets, or collecting anything U.S. for that matter. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not sure what difference it really makes unless you only purchased them to melt them down. Or sell to a jewler that melts them. Otherwise a proof set is a proof set and your supposed to save them or give to someone for a present. Melting those if Silver would be just a waste of a proof set.
However, today there are more people ruining coins than ever before.
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
You are certainly correct that proof sets are (or can be) confusing! They are my specialty and I recently learned of several that I didn't even know existed! By my count, there are 271 distinct US proof sets (1936 to date), not including variants such as missing mint marks. Of these, 32 are gold (or primarily gold) and 49 are commemorative (some of which contain a gold coin). I also did not include palladium or platinum sets in the count. Note: I define a US proof set as a US mint-issued set of two or more coins, all of which are proof.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
1968, 69 and 70 have 40% silver half dollar 1971 - 75 are all coppernickel clad 1976 6 coin set is copper nickel clad, three coin set is 40% silver 1977 - 1991 are copper nickel clad except the Prestige proof sets (will get to those in a bit) 1992 to date these can be clad or 90% silver, the 90% silver ones are MARKED Silver Proof set on the plastic case. The 90% silver ones can come as regular silver proof sets or from 92 -98 as Premier Silver proof sets. Prestige Proof sets 1983 - 97, these are larger sets that open like a book and are imitation leather bound that contain a copper nickel clad proof set and the Proof 90% silver commemorative dollar for that year. (91 also has the 90% silver bill of rights half dollar) 1999 to date there are also 5 coins silver quarter sets. There are also a series of sets from I believe 2005 to date that have a clad proof set and a proof ASE. I forget what they are called. |
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Moderator
 United States
187950 Posts |
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Prestige Proof sets 1983 - 97, these are larger sets that open like a book and are imitation leather bound... To be clear, the imitation leather is not smooth like vinyl, but napped like suede or velvet. |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 7,919 |
Posted 01/14/2011 7:00 pm
