Sell Proof Sets and Mint Sets in Dallas
Proof sets and mint sets look alike in a drawer, but they were made for different reasons and they sell very differently. Chris will tell you straight which sets carry silver or collector value and which trade close to the face value of the coins inside.
By appointment with Chris, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
How proof and mint sets are priced
Each set is priced by year, by type and by what it holds. Silver proof sets have metal in them, so they start from their silver. Prestige sets and a few scarce years carry collector interest. Many modern clad sets trade near face, and Chris says so up front.
The dime, quarter and half in a 1964 proof set (85 cents face) at today’s spot price
21 grams × 90% silver = 0.6076 troy oz × spot $59.08 = $35.90 in metal
Melt value only. Collector value, when a coin has it, is priced separately and shown to you at the table.
What decides a set's value
- Silver: many proof sets hold 90% silver coins, and those start from the metal.
- Proof or mint: proofs are struck twice on polished dies for collectors, while mint sets hold regular uncirculated coins.
- Original packaging, including the Mint box, the hard lens or cello and the certificate.
- Condition inside the case, since spots, haze and dark toning can lower a set's price.
- The year, because a few sets draw steady demand while most modern clad sets trade near face.
What happens at your appointment
- 1
Leave them sealed
Bring each set in its original lens or cello, with the outer box and paperwork.
- 2
Sort by type
Chris separates proof sets, mint sets, prestige sets and silver proofs by year.
- 3
Look through the case
He checks the coins for spots and toning without opening anything.
- 4
Get one total
You get a written list with a figure per set and one total, then you decide.
Proof sets in Dallas closets
Many Dallas grandparents ordered a proof set from the U.S. Mint every year, often as a gift for a new grandchild. Decades later those sets fill a shoebox in a hall closet in Richardson or a cedar chest in a Lake Highlands ranch house. Families usually expect them to be worth a lot, and the honest answer is mixed.
A proof set holds coins struck twice on polished dies for collectors, which gives them sharp, mirror-like surfaces. Many modern proofs carry an S mint mark from San Francisco. A mint set holds regular uncirculated coins, mostly from Philadelphia and Denver, usually in a cardboard and cello holder. The two get mixed up all the time, so do not worry about sorting them before you come.
Silver proof sets are the easy ones to value. In many years the dime, quarter and half were 90% silver, so the set has metal in it no matter what the market for sets is doing. Prestige sets came with a commemorative coin added to the regular proofs, and some of those hold up well.
Here is the hard truth. Many modern clad proof and mint sets trade close to the face value of the coins inside. Chris would rather tell you that in plain words than let you leave thinking a stack of sets is worth more than it is. He can also point out which years are the exceptions.
Do not open the cases. The hard plastic lenses and sealed cello packs protect the coins, and a set out of its original holder loses buyers. Keep the outer boxes and the Mint certificates too, even if they are worn at the corners. Never wipe cloudy plastic with anything wet.
Sets add up fast, so mention it when you book if you have more than a shoebox. Chris sees sellers Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and for big estates in Dallas County he can come to the home, whether it sits near Garland Road or off Walnut Hill Lane. A call to 469-599-3283 gets a reply the same business day.
Sellers come from
Common questions
What is the difference between a proof set and a mint set?
A proof set holds coins struck twice on polished dies for collectors. A mint set holds regular uncirculated coins made for circulation. Proofs usually come in a hard plastic case, mint sets in cello.
Are my proof sets silver?
Proof sets dated 1964 and earlier hold 90% silver dimes, quarters and halves, and the Mint has sold separate silver proof sets in many later years. Chris can tell you which of yours carry silver.
Why are modern proof sets worth so little?
Most were made in large numbers, and the clad coins hold no precious metal. Demand is light, so many trade close to face value.
Should I take the coins out of the case?
No. Leave every set in its original lens or cello. Loose proof coins are harder to sell than a complete set.
Do I need the boxes and certificates?
They help. A complete set with its outer box and Mint certificate is easier to sell than one missing pieces.
Will you buy a box of sets that are only worth face?
Chris will make an honest offer on the whole lot. You are also welcome to keep the low-value sets for the grandkids, and he will not mind.
Get a free coin appraisal
Leave your name and number and tell us what you’re selling. Chris calls you back the same business day.
(469) 599-3283By appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Serving Dallas, the Park Cities and nearby suburbs