U.S. Silver Proof Sets On Sale

The U.S. Mint has announced that the 2009 Silver Proof Set is on sale now via its Web site. This year's set contains 18 coins divided into 4 separate plastic cases (called "lenses" by the Mint.) The price is a whopping $52.95 (plus $4.95 per order for shipping.) The coins in the set are all struck at the San Francisco Mint and bear the S Mint mark. So how do we arrive at this grand total of eighteen coins?

• 4 Cents (the 2009 Lincoln Birth Bicentennial pennies)
• 1 Nickel
• 1 Dime
• 6 Quarters (the Territorial and Washington DC coins)
• 1 Half Dollar
• 5 One Dollars (the 4 Presidential Dollars plus the Sacagawea)

The Dime, Quarters, and Half Dollar are struck in 90% silver. The four Cents are struck in the original alloy used for the first Lincoln Cent in 1909: 95% copper, 3% zinc, and 2% tin.

Although the Silver Proof Set is expensive when compared to the regular Uncirculated Mint Set, it tends to increase in value at a faster pace than the the regular set. Given this year's high price and the generally poor economy, the 2009 Proof Set might prove to be a smart investment. Although it's too soon to tell what kind of sales it might enjoy, this set is worth keeping an eye on!