I've spent over an hour on a T-1 line trying to order my limit of 1 of each coin and it now looks like I am going to be shut out. If that happens, I will be selling all of my modern US mint shit. Man this irks me to no end, especially when I read on other forums where people have already ordered multiples under numerous names...

i second that.... its ended up being a modern day gold rush... run to claim your stake...

Well, I finally got my order in for the first spouse and 2 of each proof set (regular and silver), now we'll see if I actually get the gold coins. If I don't, then I will just return the proof sets for a refund and immediately start liquidating all my US coins (except the bullion) and put it all in euros...

A few weeks ago I ordered 15 Proof and 15 Uncirc sets. No Silver anything yet. Mostly fo Christmas presents. All arrived in about 2 days.
You have to remember that as long as the Mint is paid by your tax dollars, why should they care what you do or don't order. Even if everyone stopped ordering from the Mint, they would still have thier jobs and you are still paying for that.

So, is this one of those things where I should buy now if I want to get something? I don't want to get back to the Mint's website in December and see all the mint and proof sets gone...

I think your safe for the mint and proof sets. They seem to be on sale for a 12 month period until the next year set is available. You can still oder the 2006 mint set because the 2007 is not available yet.

Fastgirl YOU do not want to wait until December to order for Xmas presents. A few years ago the Mint up an decided to end production in late fall of all current issues. Tremendous amount of collectors and gift givers were shut out on that one! If there are mint products you want I would suggest you get them ordered.

jtryka I have already liquadated my U.S. collection for a whole lot of reasons. I found more fun, history and culture in world coins and have enjoyed it since 2002. The internet opened up a whole new world of buyers, sellers and traders available at the touch of a mouse and coin forums provide another option. No more dead Presidents for me that seem to last forever and ever. The U.S. is failing horribly by passing up the opportunity to use these little billboards we call coins as a way to highlight what this great nation has to offer.

They sold out of the Liberty Gold in a couple of hours, consistent with taking 40,000 orders in that time. OK, you are frustrated, but "threatening" to sell your modern US mint coins and calling them "shit" to punish *The Mint*, as well as the title of your post is, in my opinion, childish.

If your after the 2007 Mint UNC set you have to wait. It won't be out until fall.

What happened several years ago has been fixed.
The Mint was not allowed to sell sets beyong the year they were produced so they cut production off because they didn't want to have to destrory the coins after Jan 1st. Congress changed the law to allow them to sell the coins beyong the year of minting so now the common sets like proofs and Unc mint sets are available for a full year.

Let me get this straight.... you ordered 30 items and got them in 2 days, yet you insult the integrity of the individuals that made that happen?

The only time I have ordered anything from the mint in years was last year when I ordered the SF mint commem in uncirculated. I was pleased with the coin, the design etc. But what were they thinking with the ridiculously flimsy packaging? I think that thing was $36 + shipping, it took months to arrive and then I get some flimsily packaged coin I ended up popping out and putting in a Kointains holder.

The USM has gone the way of the RCM, they are marketing specialist garbage for gullible collectors. I don't buy proof sets, I haven't even seen most of the Presidential dollars beyond getting some to send to overseas CP'ers. They crank out garbage designs that is aimed at the QVC and HSN demographic crowd. This stuff is not for collectors.

JT, surely you have much better tastes in gold than this nonsense the mint is cranking out. I know you have Libs and Saints, now those are real coins. Save yourself the aggravation, take the money you would have wasted on this nonsense and buy something good, something old, tried and true and beautiful.

Sorry I sort of ran two topics together. I first ment they did great with me and the order was fast and I didn't even order express mail.
My second statement was ment to explain the other person's complaint.
At my age I sometimes write much slower than the subjects in my head and the items tend to run together. Just wait until your old. You find yourself going out to the garage and when you get there you wonder why you are there.

Hmm, this thread is making me wonder about my collection goals. Up until now, I considered adding one proof and/or one mint set per year to my collection, mostly assuming it would make a good investment. The things you all are saying are making me think that this is not so... are we all better off losing the mint and proof sets we buy specifically for investment and instead investing in something like ASE's each year instead, or like some of you mentioned, Euros and other foreign sets?

However, I think I'll still buy the proof set this year, which includes SQ's and PD's, both of which I do not yet have in proof.

K - Go darkside, it is much more fun. Go with your desires of the moment, right now I am focusing on Portugal coins, Romanian banknotes, and early 20th century Russian. I think I sent you the nascent beginning of your Portugal collection already. Proof sets etc get so dull after awhile. Collect something exotic, something you would have never thought about last year. It just makes it so much more fun.

i second that you guys ave gotton me hooked on darkside coins!!!

You'd be more into darkside if you had won the coin that BigM just got in his posty box the other day

yea i heard about it lol lucky canadians!!!

I'll have to do some research - you're right, those early Portuguese coins are breathtaking. Are there any websites dedicated to Portuguese coinage? I know http://www.worldcoingallery.com/ has some pictures, but I'm curious about pricing, etc. And where can I buy them out here in nowheresville? Best I can do with foreign coinage is the junk bin in the normal store.

Seriously, though, is buying Eagles a good investment in the long run? And, has anyone seen those "Invest In Gold" commercials? One I heard on the radio mentioned sending free ASE's when you called for info. I don't take these up unless they're the real, non-commital thing...

Those "Invest in Gold" places will not talk to you unless they believe you are going to make a big commitment. They will send you free ASE's but then that qualifies them to call you forever more and pester you to buy something. I called one of them and made a small purchase a couple of years ago, and they still call and call and call. Fortunately I have caller ID so it just gets nuked.

Actually I believe I have gotten most of my Portuguese coins from a CP member in Portugal in trades for USA coins. Here is what I have so far:

My Portuguese Coins

First off, was I childish yesterday? Sure, but every so often I can be. As for the mint putting our so much junk, I agree, and I am actually quite narrow in my purchases from the mint, sets once a year to update my albums, an occasional commem. Do I collect first spouse coins? No. But I do like the coins the mint occasionally produces that have a classic design. This would include the Buffalo dollars of 2001, the SF Mint commems of 2006 and now the First spouse coins with Liberty designs. This coin had a rendition of Scot's half cent design in gold, which I thought would be a great coin, the reverse not so much. But that's it, and if the mint (who made the mintage decision) decided to produce 100,000 coins instead of 40,000 coins, they probably would have sold out, but just about everyone that wanted one would be able to get one. Instead they listened to some marketing dolt that said sure, 40,000 should be enough (maybe for the first 3 hours).

Anyhow, sorry for the rant, the mint just ticks me off, and then I hear about people skirting the rules to get more than the limit of 1 per household and it irks me further.

i heard from a very good source that the mint itself sent quite a few of these lady liberty coins in to be slabbed...to resell at a higher price..... seems that that same marketing dolt had another brilliant idea...

Come to the darkside, the force is with you, come to the darkside

Don't stress yourself with this US Mint nonsense. It is just not worth it. Come to the darkside and collect real collectables.

K; Yes this one:

Moedas Portuguesas It is all in Portuguese, which makes sense to me since it is a Latin language, but it is pretty easy to navigate even if the language makes no sense.

Lost Dutchman I really doubt the MINT sent anything out for slabbing as there is an absolute accountabilty issue involved that would require they account for every cent struck every day and its whereabouts on government property. They are authorized to sell to their customers, online, by telephone, by mail, and at the mint, and every item sold is paid for upfront before it LEAVES the property of the Mint. Congress would have a cow if they even thought the Mint was sending items out for slabbing prior to payment transfer. Now I would not put it past a Mint official(s) to be involved in such a scheme but I am sure it is without Congressional approval or oversight. Sure would like to hear more as when there is money, there is greed and greed breeds corruption! And a little corruption at the Mint would ring through the halls of Washington for a great period of time now wouldn't it?

And, last but not least, after collecting coins for over 30 years I still can't understand why anyone would pay a premium for a slabbed coin? They are nothing more than "hyped" coffins with someone else's opinion on them and that sure doesn't make a $30 coin worth a $100? My best advice is learn to grade, enjoy the challenge and knowledge, and if you miss the mark a grade or two a RAW coin is much more attractive OUT of the plastic coffin and it is STILL the same coin but for much less money.

we will see.... my source at the grading company is a pretty good one...

As Scottishmoney has stated, "the force is strong" and the DARKSIDE awaits you. Give in to the force and join the DARKSIDE! Become an Ambassador of the Darkside!

hahah! i have been tempted by the darkside here lately.... buying several large world coin deals... i do admit there is some neat stuff...

First of all you should never really think of any coins as an investment unless you are a coin dealer. To buy a proof and/or an Uncirc set from the Mint should be more thought of as a hobby, something to pass on in the family, a collectors item. Speculating on coins going up or down is like the stock market. No one knows about tomorrow. I buy proof and Unc sets every year for Christmas Presents in hopes that the people I give them to will have something to remember me by. Candy, toys, clothing, dishes and/or just about anything else vanishes eventually and so does the memory of where it came from.
Keep up the proof sets for tomorrow.

Mint employees have always been on the up and up and would never do anything wrong, or even conjure up such notions. But there are currently 11 1933 Double Eagles and previously 14 more that were subsequently destroyed that are testament to the fact that not all goes according to what is Kosher. There are the 1913 V Nickels, the 1964 Peace Dollars, oh and the 1974 Aluminium cents which are proof positive of errant ways of the Mint, the Treasury, the Congress in general.

don't forget the intentionally errored proof coins that were smuggled out of the mint in the oil pans of the forklifts...

i found a new banner for you guys on the darkside....

i like some of the mints products but in my mind there way overpriced!! for a 2007 proof set i paid 30.00$ and theres only $6 and some odd cents worth of coins in it what a rip off!! but we still buy em lol..

I buy my wife silver proof sets because she is fascinated by the state quarters and I like the beauty of the silver coins. She enjoys the sets as well, so I continue to buy them as a Christmas stocking stuffer (that's her tradition and passion as coin collecting is mine). I believe one of the sets would probably show a small profit if we sold it, but I bought it for the pleasure associated with collecting. I would not sell or stop buying proof sets if you enjoy them. If you are buying for investment purposes, I would look elsewhere. I had a long run of proof sets in the early days of my collecting, sold them when my interests turned elsewhere (sold them at a loss, but then they went towards purchasing another coin that I later sold at a good profit--how does one measure loss or profit on a collection over the life of your hobby??). The sets have not changed much in price today, so I could repurchase them if that was my interest.

If investing were my sole interest, I would stay away from Euro sets and any of the modern stuff and look solely at quality, historic pieces that have a proven record of sustained demand. Even then, you have to look at the long term for a real profit and even that might be eaten by the real value of money over time. In the end, I collect what I like. I also buy expensive Pinot Noirs. When I enjoy one, it is gone (except for the memories) no matter how much it might have appreciated in value as it aged. When I sell a coin, I had the pleasure of owning it, possessing it, holding it, studying it, showing it off, the memories, and I get something back whether a profit or not. If investing were my sole interest, it would definitely be a losing proposition.

I had a long run of proof sets in the early days of my collecting, sold them when my interests turned elsewhere (sold them at a loss, but then they went towards purchasing another coin that I later sold at a good profit--how does one measure loss or profit on a collection over the life of your hobby??).
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I can get you a ledger or an abacus though most people prefer something like Excel or Quicken

Just be happy that your country mint do not use the "buddy system" when selling their inventory ...

...wait a minute, mine does...




Investing in coins? It would take years (decades?) to do that successefully (unless you become very, very specialized...), and buying collector targeted products (e.g. "coins") won't make it easier altough that is the feeling that the mint and several distributors with high advertising budget will use to get your money.
Junk bins are great to find out what you want to collect, try this: for six months/one year just buy the coins you like from those and then take a look at all the coins you've bought during that time, what gives you pleasure to collect will be apparent... (which types of coins you've bought more, which country, which metal/s, which era's, which theme,...)

Jose

I have collected for almost 30 years and did not look at my hobby as an investment but always knew it could be and should be. After losing a job of 28 years in the fall of 2005 I found out my collections was indeed an investment and over the past two years have been forced to sell most of it off. I made quite a bit of money, even on recently purchased items (2000 to 2003), so no one can tell me the opportunity is not there. A real key to coming out ahead is build on the classics as THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANY MORE! Just two weeks ago I found myself jobless AGAIN so I turned to my "herd" of buffalo nickels for help. As much as I hated it 191 nickels went to my dealer and I brought home a check for $1,743.00. Now I have to start building my herd again but, in my mind, my collection has more than saved me and my family over the past two years so every penny spent was well worth it. Actually I look at collecting as more of a savings account over a period of time. Hopefully one never has to get into it so it will always be there but.....things happen.
I still have ALL my world collection and will continue to seek out those coins that I find appealing. What a great hobby!

I've had trouble with the currency conversion, but my jetons and a home made counting board seem to work okay. Its just figuring the percent profit that's difficult. I think I need more jetons!