2013 Silver Proof Set from SF Mint Debuts at $67.95

On Thursday, May 2, 2013, the United States Mint released its 2013 Silver Proof Set for $67.95. Included within this annually issued collector’s set are fourteen proof coins.

Seven of the coins are struck in 90% silver. The other seven are minted in a standard clad composition. Ten of the coins bear unique designs that will only be used this year.

Before talking a bit more about the silver coins, here is a list by denomination of all the proofs that are packaged within the 2013 Silver Proof Set:

• 2013-S Clad Proof Lincoln Cent
• 2013-S Clad Proof Jefferson Nickel
• 2013-S Silver Proof Roosevelt Dime
• Five 2013-S Silver Proof America the Beautiful Quarters with one-year only reverse designs emblematic of White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial in Ohio, Great Basin National Park in Nevada, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Maryland and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota
• 2013-S Silver Proof Kennedy Half Dollar
• Four 2013-S Clad Proof Presidential $1 Coins with one-year only obverse portraits of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson — the 25th through 28th Presidents of the United States
• 2013-S Clad Proof Native American $1 Coin with a one-year only reverse design that commemorates the Delaware Treaty of 1778

These coins are all produced at the U.S. Mint facility in San Francisco and each of them has a "S" mint mark to denote their production location. (Click here for articles and photos about the San Francisco Mint that describe how it produces proof coins and packages proof sets.) The SF Mint is best known for its proof products designed for coin collectors, though it also strikes bullion American Eagle silver coins intended for investors.

Carton Contents

The San Francisco Mint places the coins into three protective lenses that are packaged into a new outer carton.

An image of the Washington Monument at sunset is printed on the front of the carton. On the back of the carton are partial images of several of the included proof coins, images of the national sites honored on the America the Beautiful Quarters and images of the presidents depicted on the four clad Presidential dollars.

Also inside the carton with the lenses is a 2013 United States Mint Silver Proof Set Specifications card shows the specs for all the proof coins. The card includes the printed U.S. Mint Certificate of Authenticity.

Melt Value of Silver Coins in Set, Premium and Face Value of Silver Proof Set

As to the seven 90% silver coins within the set, their total silver weight tallies to 1.34 troy ounces. Using Thursday’s London silver fixing of $23.69 an ounce, the set’s melt value on release day was $31.70. Some quick back-of-the-envelope math puts the premium of the set — the price above its melt value — at $36.25 on release day.

Should the set’s melt value fluctuate greatly, the U.S. Mint will adjust its price. This has happened with past issues and can take a couple of weeks to happen. Generally, the Mint will suspend sales, wait for silver prices to stabilize and then resume sales.

Adding the denominations, the fourteen coins have a total face value of $6.91.

Sales, Mintage Limits and Ordering

There are no predefined household limits or mintage limits for this year’s set. That is standard. Collector demand generally dictates how many get made.

Last year there was a surprise in that the U.S. Mint made fewer of the sets and they sold out in about six months. The final reported sales total for the 2012 Silver Proof Set was 395,443. Figures from 2008 to 2011 have the sets ranging from sales of 574,175 to 774,874.

Visit the United States Mint website directly at www.usmint.gov/catalog to place an online order for the 2013 Silver Proof Set, or simply click here. Orders may also be called in using the number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).