Last Thursday, May 14, the United States Mint released its 2015 Silver Proof Set for $53.95. This short article presents a photo overview of the silver set which scored four-day sales of 184,613 — the quickest start since the set from 2012.
Annually issued since 1992, these sets are popular with collectors as early sales of this year’s release show. Before getting to the photos, here’s a table of early and ending sales of sets since 2008:
2008 – 2015 Silver Proof Set Sales
| Year | Price | Melt Value on Release | Premium Above Melt on Release | # of Coins | Release Date | Debut Sales Date | Debut Sales | Final Sales |
| 2015 Set | $53.95 | $23.28 | $30.67 | 14 | May 14, 2015 | May 17, 2015 | 184,613 | – |
| 2014 Set | $53.95 | $25.90 | $28.05 | 14 | April 29, 2014 | May 4, 2014 | 183,520 | 420,816* |
| 2013 Set | $67.95 | $31.70 | $36.25 | 14 | May 2, 2013 | May 6, 2013 | 166,710 | 419,720 |
| 2012 Set | $67.95 | $36.64 | $31.31 | 14 | June 4, 2012 | June 11, 2012 | 189,628 | 395,443 |
| 2011 Set | $67.95 | $35.73 | $32.22 | 14 | Jan. 25, 2011 | Jan. 30, 2011 | 209,367 | 574,175 |
| 2010 Set | $56.95 | $25.57 | $31.38 | 14 | Aug. 26, 2010 | Aug. 29, 2010 | 241,656 | 585,414 |
| 2009 Set | $52.95 | $19.99 | $32.96 | 18 | July 17, 2009 | July 19, 2010 | 271,372 | 694,406 |
| 2008 Set | $44.95 | $17.46 | $27.49 | 14 | Aug. 26, 2008 | Aug. 31, 2010 | 292,004 | 774,874 |
*The 2014 Silver Proof Set remains available. Its sales climbed 754 from a week ago to 420,816.
Similar to the U.S. Mint’s companion clad 2015 Proof Set that’s cheaper at $32.95, all 14 coins of the 2015 Silver Proof Set are produced at the San Francisco Mint and have the ‘S’ mint mark. Unlike the clad version, however, 7 of the 14 coins are minted in 90% silver. Sets have three protective lenses that hold the proof coins. Here are photos of a lens with the 2015 Native American $1 Coin, the 2015 Kennedy half-dollar, 2015 Roosevelt dime, 2015 Jefferson nickel and 2015 Lincoln cent. The half-dollar and dime are in 90% silver.
These next two photos show the set’s 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters, also in 90%. The coins commemorate Homestead National Monument of America Quarter in Nebraska, Kisatchie National Forest Quarter in Louisiana, Blue Ridge Parkway Quarter in North Carolina, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Quarter in Delaware, and Saratoga National Historical Park Quarter in New York.
Then there is a lens with the clad 2015 Presidential $1 Coins depicting Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Proof sets ship with a certificate of authenticity. The back sides of certificates display specifications of the coins to include names of their designers and sculptors.
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Proof sets are available from the U.S. Mint’s website, found here, or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Thanks again Mike for writing these articles. Has anyone else noticed the trend that the silver proof set sales are holding up better than regular proof set sales? This is also true with the quarter only sets. With limited collector budgets it seems silver proofs are winning out. In general proof sets have been a bad investment lately, but maybe that is the best time to start.