Investing In State Quarter Proof Sets
When the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act was signed into law in 1997, it had a triple purpose..The program hoped to encourage knowledge in our youth about each state’s history and culture, as well as their contribution to the Union. The state quarter sets were to commemorate the states that make up this great country.The third goal was to help inspire a new generation of coin collectors.
Beginning in January 1999 with the release of the Delaware commemorative, a new state quarter was released approximately every ten weeks with five coins being released per year.The commemorative quarter for Hawaii, the final state to join the United States,was released in November 2008, bring an end to the ten year program.
The state quarter program was a huge success.Almost half of the US population began collecting states quarters.To further the goal of the program, quarter proof sets were also sold by
the United States Mint for collectors.
State Quarter proof coins were minted only by the San Francisco Mint.This is unlike regular state quarters, which were minted by the mint facilities in Denver and Philadelphia.The mints have a special process that allows the final coin to have a beautiful design and finish.It produces mirror-like backgrounds and sharp features.The foreground is frosted and sculpted in order to give the coin a cameo-like appearance.
Quarter proof sets are typically more prized by numismatists, or coin collectors.This is due to several factors.Proofs are the highest quality coin.Also,these coins are never put into circulation but instead purchased directly from the mint.Uncirculated coins tend to have less wear and tear than those released into circulation.
Proof sets are minted in smaller quantities than those released into circulation.Increased rarity produces increased value.The 2008 quarter proof sets, for example, doubled in value in less than one year’s time.Set from the earlier years are valued at to dolllars.
These sets are likely to continue climbing in value.
A proof set also comes with an authenticity certification.Proof sets are specially packaged by the United State mint giving them something a little extra special.This additional care, not given to coins released into circulation, also aids value.
Proof sets are originally sold only directly from the mint.Now you can buy them from various dealers who resell the sets.Some can even be purchased on auction sites such as eBay.
With the state quarter craze, a new interest in coin collecting was sparked across the ountry.Many people did not collect coins prior to the state quarter program.New state quarter investors are best to start with the 1999 quarters since those will likely be the most difficult to find.
A good place to get started collecting state quarter sets is with the 1999 state quarter proof set.
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