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As the 50 State Quarters Program winds down in 2008, coin collectors everywhere have begun snapping up whatever they can in order to complete their collections of these famous collectibles.
While millions of people have been collecting 50 state quarters by pulling the coins out of circulation, others have been buying 50 state quarters proof sets as a means of collecting beautiful examples of the 50 designs the U.S. Mint produced between 1999 and 2008.
50 State Quarters Proof Sets
50 state quarters proof sets have remained highly popular for the entire duration of the series.
In fact, by the end of the year 2000 and into 2001, 1999 50 state quarters copper-nickel clad proof sets were demanding prices in the $35 to $60 range — well more than the $13.95 price tag the U.S. Mint charged when they sold the first sets direct to the public.
You see, the 50 State Quarters Program was so popular early on (and has remained so), that far more people than the number of 50 states quarters proof sets available were clamoring for these popular coins.
Silver Proof Sets
Silver 50 state quarters proof sets have faired very well.
For example, the 1999 50 state quarters proof sets with silver coins long ago soared into the $300 to $400 range. The 2001 silver set is another expensive year for 50 state quarters collecting.
Clad proof sets demand $35 to $50, and the silver 2001 proof sets often sell for more than $150.
Bear in mind, though, that all silver proof sets made between 1999 and 2003 include both the quarters and the other circulating coinage, so the prices will account not just for the quarters but all the coins found in these sets. However, many dealers are selling the silver quarters portions of these proof sets individually.
While the 1999 and 2001 proof sets remain the sought-after darlings of the entire 50 state quarters proof set run, all the sets enjoy a healthy demand. The 2000 proof sets generally are the lowest-priced right now ($9 to $12 for clad, around $30 for silver), while the other clad sets generally range between $15 to $25 — higher than the Mint’s original asking price, but not out of reach for the vast majority of collectors.
Even the silver sets for other years remain at a briskly elevated but not elusive $35 to $60 each.
The 2008 50 states quarters clad proof sets, as of this writing, are available from the U.S. Mint for $13.95. Dealers and other private individuals are turning these same sets around for $15 to $20.
Meanwhile, the 2008 50 state quarters silver proof set is available directly from the Mint for $25.95.
You can view the U.S. Mint catalog online.
Will 50 State Quarters Proof Sets Rise Or Fall In Value?
Will 50 state quarters proof sets ever fall in value or rise any further? There is no definite answer for this question, as the coin market is highly volatile anyway.
In my observation of 50 state quarters prices over the past couple years, it seems that values may have stabilized, at least for now.
If these prices remain where they are, rise or fall is based largely on massive-scale collector interest in the series. Modern U.S. proof sets, for the most part, have never been viewed by the mainstream coin collecting community as the best way to make lots of money for your investment, at least not in the short run.
However, the 50 state quarters series has been widely called the most popular and successful coin design program in modern U.S. Mint history. That may yield strong results for the investment potential of 50 states quarters proof sets — both now and down the road.
At any rate, while you should use caution in buying 50 state quarters proof sets for investment purposes (I would never advise anyone on “sure” investments because there truly are none in the world of coin investing), I would strongly opine that a complete collection of 50 state quarters proof sets — silver or copper-nickel clad — makes for an absolutely stunning display of beautiful designs that will no question be counted among the collector’s favorite for years to come.
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
HI can any one help me find a link to the orginal cost of mint and proof sets from the mint Thanks gary
Hi, Gary —
Here’s a link to a website called Proof Set Guide. You’ll have to click on each date to find the issue price for each proof set, but there’s lots of info here that you might find interesting: https://proofsetguide.com/
As for mint sets, I cannot find anything more than spotty information for original issue prices online at this time. A Guide Book of United States Coins by Kenneth Bressett and R.S. Yeoman always includes original issue prices for both proof sets and mint sets, though. Here’s a link for the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Book-United-States-Coins/dp/0794827632/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267390751&sr=8-1
Good luck!
I have a fifty state quarter set of just regular quarters what is that worth??
Unless the coins are in well-preserved mint condition (also called uncirculated), your set is worth face value, but still a great coin set to display and enjoy!
how much is a set of PROOF quarters from 1999-2010 worth? This includes the state quarters,2009 mint territorial quarters, and the 2010 mint America quarters.
If you’re talking about the copper-nickel clad proof quarters, a complete set is worth somewhere around $100 to $150. With current bullion values, a set of silver quarters is worth closer to the $400 to $500 range.
My mother has rolls from the mint (white, sealed, plastic or in bags marked with state/bag value) from each of these coins, is it worthwhile to keep them as they are value wise or is it wiser to open and investigate if there are errors (depositing the rest)?
Dizzy,
Yes, it can be nagging to wonder if there are any valuable errors in those rolls or bags. However, that potential (along with the fact they are mint-sealed bags) does hold a premium in the eyes of most coin collectors. As the years go on, having original bags from certain years will definitely be a selling point.
I am sorry to say that I asked before seeing the items,, they are not in any traditional Mint containers (that I know of, which to my understanding is paper) the rolls are in plastic boxes with the year/state/city, the bags are like the sacks from the Mint but only have the state/year printed on them. They were purchased from a television commercial program (QVC?). I can’t find these on Ebay or the Mint, does this change your answer?
Hi, Dizzy —
Hmm… Well, the bags may still be official products, though it’s hard to say without seeing them to say for sure. Even if the coins were privately wrapped or bagged, they could still hold value down the road in the sense that they will be bulk caches of coins. Many privately assembled bulk hoards of coins of a certain date/mint/type sell quite well.
I personally think the silver proof state quarters will be a fantastic investment (long term). I own around 10 complete sets (1999-2008), 20-30 lose individual year sets, and around 13-15 rolls. If there are only a few 100 people like me that feel this way, these coins will become very scarce very quickly.
I was going around pawn shops in Amarillo looking for bicycles. I enjoy looking around and I found two sets 2003 and 2004 silver proof state quarters. The price tag said 5 dollars so I brought both knowing that this was a great deal. I got home and cracked open the field guide a realized that this not only was a great deal but most likely on oversight at the shop. I just wanted share story with a group that would enjoy.
I have the original coins that were put in circulation from the year they were issued including Sackagaweea (spelling). The North Carolina coin is pretty rare as well because it says “First Flight” instead of “First in Flight.” Can anyone with any knowledge tell me how much it will be worth in, say, 2018?
Best,
There really is no way to determine a coin’s value in the future, especially years out. The coin market is very volatile, and the value for such a coin is based on relative supply versus demand, as well as its condition and other factors.
I as well have the North Carolina coin that says “first flight”. I didn’t know it was made any other way. What does this mean?
Chanta,
“First Flight” refers to the fact that the Wright brothers tested the first manned plane back in 1903 in North Carolina.
I have 4 complete sets (1999-2008) of the 50 State quarters in silver proof collections. I would like to know the approximate value of one of these complete sets. Thanks, Mark P.
Hello, Mark –
Right now, the value of a 1999-2008 silver quarters proof set is about $315-320. So, I would say that four of those sets would have a value of right around $1,250 to $1,300.
Thank you!!!
Zero.
I got the whole 1999 _2008 coin collection with the San Francisco mint state quaters and the nevada ones too how much is it worth??
Hello, Carlos –
Nice collection! A set of copper-nickel “S” mint proof quarters is worth about $100 right now, but the quarters in the images appear to be uncirculated pieces either from Philadelphia (“P) or Denver (“D”). I think this only because these coins don’t appear to have the reflectivity that most proof coins have. If my thinking is correct, this set would have a value closer to about $20.
I hope this info helps!
Some of the coins have a S on them n others have a P and a D on them what do letters mean?? And thank you for getting back too me
The S P and D are the mint codes. Examples of mint marks in United States coinage include P for the Philadelphia Mint, D for the Denver Mint, S for the San Francisco Mint,
Hi. I have a 4 full sets of the 50 state quarters in silver, all in mint condition in a presentation book. How much is something like this worth today? And am I right in believing that one of them is worth a substantial amount more than the rest of them? Thanks
Hi, Liam —
You’re right in knowing that two of the most valuable 50 States Quarters are the 2004 Wisconsin Extra Leaf quarter and the 2005 Minnesota Extra Tree quarter. The former is worth $50 to $100 while the latter has a value of up to $300.
Best,
Josh