Final Day for U.S. Mint 2010 Annual Sets

Friday, December 30th at 5:00 PM (ET) is the deadline to buy the 2010-dated annual sets from the United States Mint.

This year’s last chance sale began nearly three months ago with an assortment of United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarter products, Presidential $1 Coin related products, and Commemorative Coins.

Among the "Last Opportunity" list are the six annual sets below, arranged by highest to lowest price, and including the most recent sales figures as of Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

Last Opportunity for 2010 Annual Sets

At this time, there are no household limits on these particular annual sets, but there is limited availability. A 7-day return policy is allowed, although the United States Mint indicates it will not accept returns unless a product was delivered damaged. In addition, a replacement for a damaged product cannot be guaranteed.

The United States Mint’s Silver Proof Set has been around since August 26, 2010. It contains 14 coins, of which seven of those are composed of 90 percent silver. The silver strikes include the five America the Beautiful Quarters honoring Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon.

The other two silver coins are the Kennedy half dollar and the Roosevelt dime. All remaining coins in this set are clad. They are the Native American dollar, Jefferson nickel, Lincoln cent, and the four Presidential dollars honoring Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln. Each of the coins in the Silver Proof Set was struck at the facility in San Francisco.

The America the Beautiful Silver Quarters Proof Set has been on the market since May 27, 2010. It contains the same five quarters described above which are also in proof quality and are composed of 90 percent silver.

For the current melt values of the two silver annual set and other United States Mint silver coins, check the Silver Coin Price Guide.

Similar to the Silver Proof Set, the 2010 Proof Set contains 14 coins, each minted in San Francisco. The difference is that every coin is made of the same metal alloys found in circulating coinage, which is mostly a combination of nickel and copper, but some coins also have zinc and manganese. The United States Mint uses specially polished blanks and dies to produce the mirror-like background surfaces and frosted foregrounds. July 22, 2010 was the launch date for the set.

28 coins make up the Uncirculated Mint Set that has been on sale since July 15, 2010. 14 of the coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint facility and the other 14 are from the Denver mint facility. These coins are divided into two folders with information that explains each coin’s specifications. This set is the final one with coins bearing the Mint’s satin finish which had been used between 2005 and 2010. Current uncirculated Mint Sets now use brilliant finishes on coins which are not unlike circulating issues.

Four coins are packaged together in the United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set. They are the clad dollars struck to proof quality and feature Presidents Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln. This set has been on the market the longest, since February 11, 2010.

The lowest priced of the available annual sets is the America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set. This set contains the five inaugural quarters in the new series. Each has been struck in sharp relief with mirror-like background surfaces. Again, these debut quarters honor Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. The set originally launched on May 13, 2010.

For more information on the annual sets or to place orders, visit the United States Mint website at www.usmint.gov/catalog (see the "Last Opportunity" link in the upper left) or call the Mint’s toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).