"Wolfgang Haeupler" wrote in message
...
Group!
Could someone please tell me, what is the difference
between the US silver proof sets and the silver premiere
sets, which both are listed in the Red Book?
Is there are visible difference?

Thanks in advance,
Wolfgang

The difference was purely packaging. The Premier Silver Sets, while they
made them, for a few years, in the 1990s, came in a box contianing a fancy,
squishy, velvety padded case with metal hinging that opened up to reveal
basically a regular Silver Proof Set in the usual five coin plastic holder,
with a metal frame around it that could be flipped back so the set could
stand up on a built-in easel..

These should not be confused with the Prestige Proof Sets, which were in
even fancier leather bound snap shut cases and included one or two
Commemoratives from that year, sometimes a Half, sometimes a Dollar,
sometimes both, plus a COA and an outer box.

The Premier Silver Sets have a horizontal format. The Prestige Proof Sets
have a vertical format..

Neither have been sold by the US Mint for about six years.. 1997 was the
last year for the Presitge Proof Sets.. I think the Premier Silver Sets
ended the same year too.. Again, the Premier Silver Sets were ONLY fancy
packaging around a standard Silver Set. The Prestige Set (even though you
did not ask about them).. were even fancier packaging around a clad set that
included one or two Commemoratives for/from that year.. the three final
years of the Prestige Sets apparently sold in very small numbers since they
are far and away the most expensive to buy now..


Harv