I never have and never will collect RM coin sets, so I have not gone out of my way to learn about them or acquire them. However even though I do my best to avoid them, people keep insisting on selling them to me. I currently have a small pile of 11 sets sitting on my desk.
I had previously assumed they were all Proof sets, but I have noticed that some of these sets are frosted and some are not. Are the non-frosted ones extremely good quality strikes for collectors sets or are they proofs as well?
Yes they have both Proof and UNC Coin sets. The UNC sets are generally cheaper than Proof ones. I got couple of UNC RM sets for almost at the face value of the coins in them.
“A man without a hobby is only half alive.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Oh well not to worry. I can't stand the things, I think I will crack most of them open and sell the coins individualy. I will keep some of the Pennies for my personal collection.
Ahh, no problem, I have considered collecting the proof sets.. But I haven't come across any yet apart from the 1972 set which is the only one I was bothered about in decimal terms because they didn't make pennies for circulation that year.
I have done what I probably should have done in the first place and consulted the books and here's what I found out.
1972 - 1981 only Proof sets were made. These are not frosted proofs but are distinctly made to a higher standard than circulating coins and have what can only be described as a gloss finish.
1982 and 1983 the mint started making Proof coins with the device frosted and produced Uncirculated mint sets which were to the same standard as circulating coins.
From 1984 the mint makes Brilliant Uncirculated sets instead of Uncirculated sets. These are meant to be free from bag marks and scratches etc, defects that an Uncirculated coin can have. They also continue to produce frosted Proof sets.
