Why the 2014 Proof Sets Are Hot

Proof sets—in particular this one—are a must-have for any serious coin collector. Last month the US Mint released the official 2014 proof set. And despite the release of popular coins like the Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative and the Golden Eagle, it’s very likely that this year’s proof set will be 2014’s top-selling coin product. Though not equaling the whopping 389,905 early orders for the Baseball Hall of Fame coin, the 2014 proof set sales are nothing to sneeze at. Initial sales are slightly higher than last year’s, debuting at over 200,000.

Issued by the San Francisco mint, the set includes 14 coins. All of the coins—aside from some of the presidential coins—were created as part of different commemorative coin acts intended to celebrate US history. The Native American $1 Coin honors the native tribes of the Pacific
Northwest who played an important part in Lewis and Clark’s journey.

The presidents honored on the 2014 Presidential $1 Coin releases are as follows:

• Warren G. Harding

• Calvin Coolidge

• Herbert Hoover

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

The annual America the Beautiful quarter releases for 2014 feature the following national parks:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quarter in Tennessee

• Shenandoah National Park Quarter in Virginia

• Arches National Park Quarter in Utah

• Great Sand Dunes National Park Quarter in Colorado

• Everglades National Park Quarter in Florida

Later in April, the Mint will release a silver proof set at a slightly higher cost. Though all of these coins will be in regular circulation, experienced coin collectors know the value of buying a proof set. Circulated coins are not the same quality as Mint-issued proof sets because of the extra-shiny finish found on proof set coins. It creates a mirror effect on the background and makes the frosted image in the foreground jump off the coin.

With the release of the 2014 proof set, the Baseball Hall of Fame Coin and the Golden Eagle Coin, it’s safe to say this spring is coin season! If you coin aficionados ever want to talk about coins, come down to Bellevue Rare Coins. We could talk coins all day long.

Bellevue Rare Coins specializes in gold buying and dealing in rare coins. We are a family-owned business located in Bellevue and Lynnwood. We also buy and sell silver, diamonds, currency and jewelry. Visit us first for a free evaluation.

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