That's a good question... I don't know the expected die life of proof dies...
Two things that could have influence over the answer: how often do they exchange, maintain, clean, or check the dies; and do earlier ones start with adjustments and relative quality checks.
I've been very happy with the quality of my clad proof quarter sets. I think they tend to look really great early on.
The silvers had lots of quality problems early on in the 2002 series. I sent several back because they were awful. The latter ones were MUCH better... However, this may have been planchet quality issues relative to silver, though.
Big Bear
Edited to add: P.S. I'd love to know about proof die life and expected usage...
In the past, the US mint offered the 5 piece and 10 piece proof set at the same time. Last year, the 10 piece sold out faster than the 5 piece. They stopped selling the the 2002 5 piece about a month ago. This is the first year, since the statehoods were released, that the two mint sets have been offered at drastically different times. It seems like good marketing for the mint to adopt the release of the statehood set before the full set as there are allot of folks out there collecting the 5 piece only. Why don't they release them both? Marketing! Put the 5 piece out first and more folks will probably buy it and then cause such a stir for the ten piece that, when it's finally released, it will probably sell out. It's all about marketing. I can't blame them. Technically, it's good business.
Bah, the silver sets are cooler anyway...most of the quarter designs being so godawful or just plain silly...the silver content just about brings the quarters to the level of desirability.
The silver ones are usually released in late summer or fall. I too considered waiting but didin't want to take a chance of a state having a problem and causing a variety. Ten years is a long time for the mint to produce a product without screwing up. Yeah, I've got a bag of those Ohio P's and I'm hoping it's the key.
Comments
W.C. Fields
Two things that could have influence over the answer: how often do they exchange, maintain, clean, or check the dies; and do earlier ones start with adjustments and relative quality checks.
I've been very happy with the quality of my clad proof quarter sets. I think they tend to look really great early on.
The silvers had lots of quality problems early on in the 2002 series. I sent several back because they were awful. The latter ones were MUCH better... However, this may have been planchet quality issues relative to silver, though.
Big Bear
Edited to add: P.S. I'd love to know about proof die life and expected usage...
"I think I have finally lived long enough to realize that the big man in the sky aint talking" Ogden Nash
"When all you got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"