First Spouse

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Feb 16, 2:06 pm, Jud wrote:
On Feb 16, 7:49 am, "Bremick" wrote:

I began ordering an annual proof set in 1953. It cost a buck something
and
I don't remember if there was a shipping charge. I do recall typically
having to order early in the year and then waiting six months or so for
the
set to arrive. At least we've come some way since then. I never thought
about ordering a mint set since shiny examples of all the latest coins
could
always be found in circulation. As you probably remember, there was no
MS
or Gem BU. If it was mint-shiny it was uncirculated and worthy of a
place
in an album.

Today, I decide which sets I want to order from the Mint and once
they're
all available I'll place a combined order with one $4.95 shipping
charge.
Cheaper that way than with many mail order companies.

Correct me if I am wrong (yeah! Like you need to be told that in this
group!)
Back in the 'good ole days', you would place your order for the proof
set, and as Bruce said, you would get it months later. Seems like they
arrived in December. This year is the earliest I have ever gotten my
proof sets.

Question is...were these minted to order? If a million people ordered
proof sets, did they make a million (+ a few extras)?

IIRC (which is often not the case), the price was $1.91 or $2.10 per
proof set, including postage. Not bad for 91¢ face value, especially
when the silver content is currently worth close to $6.

I do my mint ordering at the end of each month to defray shipping
charges as well.

Not quite sure what you mean about "silver content is currently worth
close to $6."???

Right now today (2/16/2011), any 90% silver U.S.A. half dollar alone
is worth $10.00; the silver quarter and silver dime have proportional
values, of course.

The people who bought 1964 and earlier proof sets directly from the
Mint are quickly passing from the scene too, not many of those folks
left who still have their original sets purchased way back then.
---------------------

I got rid of mine long ago. IIRC, in the 1953 and 1954 sets the individual
coins were in cloudy vinyl-like baggies that were stapled together. Mine
clouded up and spotted after a couple years. The next flat pack cello
holders weren't much better. So I quit buying proof sets until later in the
1970's. It's been hit and miss since then.

On Feb 16, 8:33*pm, "Bremick" wrote:
"oly" wrote in message

...
On Feb 16, 2:06 pm, Jud wrote:





On Feb 16, 7:49 am, "Bremick" wrote:

I began ordering an annual proof set in 1953. It cost a buck something
and
I don't remember if there was a shipping charge. I do recall typically
having to order early in the year and then waiting six months or so for
the
set to arrive. At least we've come some way since then. I never thought
about ordering a mint set since shiny examples of all the latest coins
could
always be found in circulation. As you probably remember, there was no
MS
or Gem BU. If it was mint-shiny it was uncirculated and worthy of a
place
in an album.

Today, I decide which sets I want to order from the Mint and once
they're
all available I'll place a combined order with one $4.95 shipping
charge.
Cheaper that way than with many mail order companies.

Correct me if I am wrong (yeah! Like you need to be told that in this
group!)
Back in the 'good ole days', you would place your order for the proof
set, and as Bruce said, you would get it months later. Seems like they
arrived in December. This year is the earliest I have ever gotten my
proof sets.

Question is...were these minted to order? If a million people ordered
proof sets, did they make a million (+ a few extras)?

IIRC (which is often not the case), the price was $1.91 or $2.10 per
proof set, including postage. Not bad for 91 face value, especially
when the silver content is currently worth close to $6.

I do my mint ordering at the end of each month to defray shipping
charges as well.

Not quite sure what you mean about "silver content is currently worth
close to $6."???

Right now today (2/16/2011), any 90% silver U.S.A. half dollar alone
is worth $10.00; the silver quarter and silver dime have proportional
values, of course.

The people who bought 1964 and earlier proof sets directly from the
Mint are quickly passing from the scene too, not many of those folks
left who still have their original sets purchased way back then.
---------------------

I got rid of mine long ago. * IIRC, in the 1953 and 1954 sets the individual
coins were in cloudy vinyl-like baggies that were stapled together. *Mine
clouded up and spotted after a couple years. *The next flat pack cello
holders weren't much better. *So I quit buying proof sets until later in the
1970's. *It's been hit and miss since then.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I've had some estate stuff sent my way for liquidation during 2010,
and I paid the relatively low prices to keep the 1964 Proof sets for
myself. The gentleman who died no doubt bought these direct from the
Mint at the time of issue; he was a very casual collector but was most
active in 1964-1966 when everybody and their dog was pulling silver
coin out of circulation. Almost all of the later copper-nickel proof
stuff he bought went for much lower prices than hoped, certainly lower
than if they had been sold a year or two earlier.

Now, a 1953 or 1954 set, that would be much better, even with some
spots.

oly

"Beanie" wrote in message ...
After an initial run on the Mint for the limited edition First Spouse 1/2
ounce coins, interest seems to have waned as the price of gold (and the
Mint's ludicrous markup) increased.
Checking the Mint web site, I notice that a BU Buchanan's Liberty is still
available.
The "Liberty" coins may prove to be the most popular sub-set of the series
but at $800+ a pop, the First Spouse series ingeneral is rapidly losing
any consumer appeal.
I've been content to buy the First Spouse medal series at $5.50 per medal or
$11.95 for a 4 medal yearly set.

https://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...category=10193

or http://tinyurl.com/4wzohg9

(They were only about $3.50 when the series started.) I did see an
advertisement a while ago.in Numismatic News for the first 4 medal set for
$70 for the set. It made me wish I had bought a few more sets.

I like the First Spouse Liberty medals so I bought a second one of each.
(There have been 4 so far.) Where else can you buy a mint produced Draped
Bust, Clasic Head or Seated Liberty "coin". I think the Liberty Medals are
cool.

And the First Spouse medal set is a nice compliment to the Presidential
medal set that I bought a few years ago.

I'm wondering when they are going to come out with the Barack Obama
Presidential medal. I thought it would have been out by now.


--
Richard
http://coins.richlh.com/MyCoinLinks.htm
http://www.richlh.com
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
thinking we were at when we created them. (Albert Einstein)

"Beanie" wrote in message ...

"oly" wrote in message
...
I think when you get down to the nitty-gritty, there are a large
number of U.S. Presidents who aren't truly worthy of the coinage
honor, let alone their wives.

"A large number" is a gross understatement.
Other than Teddy Roosevelt, there wasn't one POTUS in the 20th century
worthy of the honor.

Of course, TR was the first president to advocate a National Health Care
system.

The 19th century had Lincoln, Jefferson, Madison and John Adams - the rest
are forgettable.

Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States was
interesting, I liked his comment about giving everything to the rich: "He
mocks the people who proposes that the government shall protect the rich and
they, in turn, will care for the laboring poor." To bad we didn't listen to
him. He also inherited, in 1893, one of the worst depressions on record.

Most Presidents have been political hacks, not even worthy of being on a
postage
stamp.

Yeah! But, all of the dead presidents were honored on postage stamps a few
years ago.

--
Richard
http://www.richlh.com