How come the new change I get is better than the coins in Mint Sets?

fcloud

Title says it all.

I keep getting real nice coins in change. They seem to be better than the coins in my 2003 mint sets. What gives, does the mint take better care with normal business strikes vs. business strikes for mint sets?

Your opinions please!

airplanenut

Our mint's quality control was laid off a long time ago...

RGL

Commerce, baby ... can't be bothered with you profit-center collectors. You might well find better pocket change. Buy Canadian if you want some nice coins from people who give a hoot about numismatists. I, too, have noticed the same phenomenon ...

Tootawl

I know what you mean! I got a 2002 quarter in change that if it wasn't for the bag marks could have easily got a 68. I was amazed how nice the coin was.

fcloud

The coins that seem to be the best are the 2003 dimes I keep getting in change from the vending machine at work... I am half tempted to send one in for grins!

TAP444

Send it in modern service and let us know how it grades
tim

RGL

Dang if I can remember who it was or when it was or the particular results, but I think I remember someone sending some pocket change in for grading and darn if they did not do too bad ... anyone have better recall on that/those post(s)?

fishcooker

Yeah I've seen some *outstanding* dimes come out of our machine, and I have considered sending one in.

I've also got amazing Arkansas quarters from Dairy Queen - they're better than the mint set.

itsnotjustme

I've seen a lot of real nice looking Jeffersons from change. Of course when I put a loup to them, none are worth submitting.

Myqqy

I've also noticed that mint set coins often appear a bit lifeless, even while the proof sets that I've recently purchased have been stellar. But I've been reading about how much more market savvy the mint is nowadays in selling items to collectors- why would they be finding new ways to capitalize on collecters but then offer substandard mint set strikes?

Sphinx357

I'm putting together a set of flawless Statehood Quarters from pocket change. We're talking perfect here, any bagmarks visible to the naked eye and it gets spent. Sure it's not technically pocket change if you're buying a bag of $500 worth of quarters from the bank, but out of that bag I picked out:

1999D Connecticut
2001D Rhode Island
2002D Ohio
2002D Indiana
2002P Mississippi
2002D Louisiana
2003P Arkansas
2003D Alabama
2003D Maine

If these don't grade MS69 or MS70 then I don't know what does.

Cam40

I,ve noticed that the P mint coins for `03 are better quality than the D mints.
Atleast in the mint sets I have they are.

A high quality D should be worth more than the P counterpart for `03s I,m thinking.
The Philly mint must have switched managers with the Denver mint.
Now the Ds will be the crappy strikes for a change.
Maybe we,ll get some cool errors out of the deal FOR A CHANGE.
I,m always jealous of you eastcoast dudes with all the error coins that yall
have floating around there because of the lack of quality control at the Philly mint.