2010 US Mint Silver Proof Set Information

The second set released this year to contain silver versions of American circulating coinage is the 2010 US Mint Silver Proof Set.

This collection was launched by the United States Mint on Thursday, August 26, 2010, for a price of $56.95.

Last year’s 2009 Silver Proof Set premiered on July 17, 2009, but apparently owing to the small lead time given to the Mint in creating the new America the Beautiful Quarters™ Series (some of which are contained in this set), the Mint pushed the launch date back by over a month.

Coins included in the 2010 set are:

• (4) Presidential $1 Coins
• (1) Native American $1 Coin
• (1) Kennedy half-dollar
• (5) America the Beautiful Quarters
• (1) Roosevelt dime
• (1) Jefferson nickel
• (1) Lincoln cent

Contrary to what some may believe, not all of the coins in this set are struck from silver. Of the fourteen total coins, seven of them are featured in 90% silver, including the Kennedy Half Dollar, the Roosevelt Dime and the five 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters. All, however, are struck to proof quality at the Mint’s facility in San Francisco and contain the appropriate ‘S’ mint mark. Typical circulating coins are struck at either the Mint’s facility in Denver or Philadelphia.

Ten of the coins in this collection feature new designs never before included in a United States Mint Silver Proof Set. These include the four 2010 Presidential $1 Coins (Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln), the new 2010 Lincoln Cent and the five 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters (Hot Springs National Park of Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park of Wyoming, Yosemite National Park of California, Grand Canyon National Park of Arizona and Mount Hood National Forest of Oregon).

As mentioned, pricing on the set is $56.95, which is significantly higher than prior years when 14 coins were included for $44.95. Last year’s set went for $52.95, and contained four more coins (18). However, the price of silver is also significantly higher this year. Silver was right at $19 an ounce when the 2010 Silver Proof Set launched. As a comparison, the 2009 Silver Proof Sets were issued at a time when silver was hovering around $13 an ounce.

The sets are available directly from the US Mint’s website at www.usmint.gov or by calling their toll-free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

The Mint also offers a subscription program for those interested in pre-ordering future year’s of the Silver Proof Sets. Those that do will not have to concern themselves with placing an order once the set is offered, as they will automatically receive one. Prices will be adjusted by the Mint before shipping subscription orders.

The Mint issued the first set to contain silver coins, the 2010 US Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set, on May 27, 2010 for $32.95.

It will also offer America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, which are duplicates of the new quarters but much larger in size (5 ounces of .999 fine silver, and 3 inches in diameter). The Mint has yet to announce release dates for these, only indicating they will be producing them in the fall and at a quantity of 500,000 across all five for 2010.