Is my coin book odd?

CodyB

I have the 2005 edition of 'Coins and Prices' and I looked up the price of my 1990 S, now it has a prestige set, and a non prestige set, and I don't think mine is a prestige set because it doesn't say prestige anywhere on it...so anyways, the non prestige set goes for 10.50...

Now, I then proceeded to look up every coin in the proof set
1990 S Half Dollar - $5
1990 S Quarter - $6
1990 S Dime - $2.75
1990 S Nickel - $5.50
1990 S Penny - $5.75
Total - $25

How can the coins in the proof set be worth more then the proof set?

Unless its a prestige set, which is says is valued at $32, but like I said, I don't think so...

fivecents

The prestige proof set would have a 1990 IKE commemorative dollar along with the regular proof coins and also comes in a large velvet book type packaging. Sounds like your set is a regular proof set. Is the packaging purple or black?

CodyB

Purple, it came in a small little fold in box, and inside theres a little card on the coins, and then in plastic, the coins themselves...
Oh, and definatly no Ike Dollar

wjd283

<< <i>How can the coins in the proof set be worth more then the proof set? >>





There are many proof sets like this.

fivecents

Yup, that's a regular proof set.

Where did you find those prices for the individual proof coins? Those prices seem very high and not in step with true market values. imo

CodyB

Yea, I figured as much, but, I mean, how does that work out? How is it that because the coins are grouped together they're worth less? If I took them out and I placed them in seperate holders they'd be worth more?

dthigpen

The individual coins aren't actually worth that much, it's as simple as that.

CodyB

I just looked em up in the book, same book as where I looked up the proof set itself

Conder101

The coins are worth more individually for two reasons.

1, The price of the proof set is for an average or typical set. Some of the coins in the set may be a little better than average, some a little worse. etc. The price of the individual coins is for a specific grade, possibly PF-67. This would be a group of coins that may be better than those found in the typical proof set.

2. Sale of a proof set represents the effort of marketing a single item. When you break up the set you now have to package, handle, and find buyer for not one item but five different items. Some of those items wil not move as rapidly as other and will sit in stock longer. This means money is tied up longer. To compensate for those differences a higher total price is justified.

Many things cost more for their parts than as a whole. A car is a collection of parts to which much labor has been added, but if you go out and price out what it would cost to buy all the parts to build your own car you will find it is considerably more than the cost of the completed car.

By the way, don't trust the prices quoted in any book for coins. The lead time for the book is such that there is no way the prices shown can be accurate to the market.