Franklin Mint Revenge: 1984 Barbados Proof Set Sells for 6x Issue Price

7Jaguars · October 23, 2012 6:22AM

Wow, these things are holding high and there seem to be multiple bidders for them at over 500-600 USD.

Just this last week, the Barbados 1984 proof set sold for 676. This and the '84 Papua sets seem to be
at the top of the Franklin Mint proof heap, although there are rarer bits like the '84 Cayman Islands.

I still don't see how Krause prices them at fractions of bullion in many cases (ie Panama pre-1980 sets
with 5.7 oz. of silver priced at 80 USD)....

These mid-80s sets can not be compared to the earlier 1973-1977 sets that are usually a bit higher mintages.
There has been a lot of melting and another think I have now seen is partial sets of even the rarer dates with the
silver coins CUT OUT!

coinkat · October 23, 2012 9:16AM

Revenge seems to be a fair tag line

I will also write that the early 1970s sets from various countries were subject to the melt that transpired in the 1979-81 time frame- how many really survived? It really is not only about the mintage but how many survive and we seem to forget that- a lesson that is not always learned or appreciated

JCMhouston · October 23, 2012 10:12AM

You were smart to collect them before the prices went up so much, a lot of these do have very low mintages.

7Jaguars · October 23, 2012 12:01PM

I used to think that the unloved mint sets and currency coins were the sleepers, but seems precious little interest in these as these are same designs but no precious metals, which are found in the proof sets. I think my ex-wife may have some very nice sets tucked away...LOL...

I wonder if these lessons will be relearned with the ATB US quarter and hockey puck series? Will there ever be sleepers, are there just too many of them?

GritsMan · October 31, 2012 9:21AM

Yes, indeed. Very smart to grab these. Seems like a ripe subject for a new book, too--a price and mintage guide to Franklin Mint issues. Is there one already? If so, it can't be up-to-date. I've grabbed a few of these sets, too, but many others have already soared out of reach.

1960NYGiants · October 31, 2012 11:18AM

The last (and only) FM catalogue I ever saw was dated 1970, blue soft cover as I recall.

coinsarefun · November 9, 2012 5:20PM

Dang it......I had two of these sets and sold them a year or so ago.....didn't get anywhere near that price

I did however have an extra piece that I saved from a 1973 set I broke apart and sold.

The reason I kept this one is the blue toning with the fish and water looked so cool

But I don't think 1973 is rare

7Jaguars · November 9, 2012 6:29PM

Nice image of a nice coin there...

Of course the date is all-important and the 1984 set with the $10 and two dolphins is the "key" set and second only to the Papua New Guinea 1984 set (or at least it was). They may be nearly tied now.

Franklin Mint Revenge: 1984 Barbados Proof Set Sells for 6x Issue Price

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