The high quality of the new mint sets

Dan50

Just wondering... Having heard (since I did not buy any from the mint this year) that the quality of mint set coins has improved again this year, where does that leave roll searching? Will the business strike coins be able to compete with the set coins? Graded on a curve? Do you think this will end up being like the 65-67's trying to compete with SMS set coins? If so, it will be get them from the mint or do without. Maybe a mint set Registry, and a business strike registry?

cladking

No. There was a different process used for the SMS coins than for the circulation issues.
This process was not sufficiently distinct to always be able to differentiate the products
of the two processes. While there are numerous niceities in the production of mint set
coins in recent years, they are incidental taken individually and as a whole. The results are
often dramatic, but there is no way to tell a mint set coin from a circulation issue.

eye

I can't speak with authority about general coins in the mint sets but I have looked carefully at thousands of State Quarters from the mint sets and tens of thousands of State quarters from rolls and I can see a slightly different "look" to both. There is often a creamy subdued luster to roll coins when one is found without contact marks. The mint coins often have a blazing luster and slightly better strike. Since PCGS graders seem to like blazing luster most of the MS69 quarters have come from mint sets. IMHO, when you can find a great MS68 from a roll, it has a magnificant ceamy luster quality and incredible eye appeal to it.
Donn