By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for Coinweek …….
Have you ever wondered what it would cost to collect all the different coins that the United States Mint released each year? I’m not talking about the various coin sets and products, but rather one specimen of each available coin. For example, if you wanted to acquire the 2015 March of Dimes proof silver dollar and the two special 2015 proof dimes, you wouldn’t need to buy the March of Dimes proof dollar on top of the 2015 March of Dimes Special Silver Proof Set, since all three coins come in the latter.
You would, however, have to buy the individual 2015 March of Dimes uncirculated silver dollar, as that piece was sold separately.
But it goes without saying that building an entire set of coins from the U.S. Mint is much more complicated now than it was in the late 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, or very early ‘80s, when the Mint struck relatively small numbers of different coins and offered a quaint (and manageable) variety of products (basically just proof sets and uncirculated sets of regular-issue coinage).
Coin collectors today certainly may have more options than our predecessors had only a few decades ago. However, the large yearly selection of new coin products from the U.S. Mint today means that more and more hobbyists are becoming more and more selective about what they buy–unless they can afford shelling out thousands of dollars each year to order virtually everything in the Mint’s catalog.
And THAT’S assuming collectors can even keep track of what the Mint is offering!
Anyway, back to my question: have you ever considered how much it would cost to collect one of each of the individual coins that the United States Mint produces in a year? What follows is an attempt to answer that question for a specific year: namely, 2015. Here is a list of the minimum number of products one would have to buy in order to assemble a collection of all the different 2015 U.S. Coins.
*Regular issue prices are factored in, except in cases where fluctuating prices were instituted (such as in the case of some gold products); in those situations, opening prices were used.
2015 Uncirculated Set
Total Coins: 28
Issue Price: $28.95
Face Value: $13.82
Contents:
- 2015-P Lincoln Cent
- 2015-D Lincoln Cent
- 2015-P Jefferson Nickel
- 2015-D Jefferson Nickel
- 2015-P Roosevelt Dime
- 2015-D Roosevelt Dime
- 2015-P America the Beautiful Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska Quarter
- 2015-D America the Beautiful Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska Quarter
- 2015-P America the Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Quarter
- 2015-D America the Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Quarter
- 2015-P America the Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Quarter
- 2015-D America the Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Quarter
- 2015-P America the Beautiful Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Quarter
- 2015-D America the Beautiful Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Quarter
- 2015-P America the Beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park, New York Quarter
- 2015-D America the Beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park, New York Quarter
- 2015-P Kennedy Half Dollar
- 2015-D Kennedy Half Dollar
- 2015-P President Harry Truman Dollar
- 2015-D President Harry Truman Dollar
- 2015-P President Dwight D. Eisenhower Dollar
- 2015-D President Dwight D. Eisenhower Dollar
- 2015-P President John F. Kennedy Dollar
- 2015-D President John F. Kennedy Dollar
- 2015-P President Lyndon B. Johnson Dollar
- 2015-D President Lyndon B. Johnson Dollar
- 2015-P Mohawk Ironworkers Dollar
- 2015-D Mohawk Ironworkers Dollar
2015-S America the Beautiful Homestead National Monument Quarter Roll
Total Coins: 40
Issue Price: $18.95
Face Value: $10
2015-S America the Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest Quarter Roll
Total Coins: 40
Issue Price: $18.95
Face Value: $10
2015-S America the Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway Quarter Roll
Total Coins: 40
Issue Price: $18.95
Face Value: $10
2015-S America the Beautiful Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Quarter Roll
Total Coins: 40
Issue Price: $18.95
Face Value: $10
2015-S America the Beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park Quarter Roll
Total Coins: 40
Issue Price: $18.95
Face Value: $10
American $1 Coin & Currency Set
Total Coins: 1 (also contains a $1 U.S. banknote)
Issue Price: $14.95
Face Value: $2
Contents:
- 2015-W Enhanced Uncirculated Mohawk Ironworkers Dollar
2015 United States 14-Coin Proof Set
Total Coins: 14
Issue Price: $32.95
Face Value: $6.91
Contents:
- 2015-S Lincoln Cent
- 2015-S Jefferson Nickel
- 2015-S Roosevelt Dime
- 2015-S America the Beautiful Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska Quarter
- 2015-S America the Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Quarter
- 2015-S America the Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Quarter
- 2015-S America the Beautiful Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Quarter
- 2015-S America the Beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park, New York Quarter
- 2015-S Kennedy Half Dollar
- 2015-S President Harry Truman Dollar
- 2015-S President Dwight D. Eisenhower Dollar
- 2015-S President John F. Kennedy Dollar
- 2015-S President Lyndon B. Johnson Dollar
- 2015-S Mohawk Ironworkers Dollar
2015 United States Silver Proof Set
Total Coins: 14
Issue Price: $53.95
Face Value: $6.91
Contents:
- 2015-S Lincoln Cent
- 2015-S Jefferson Nickel
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver Roosevelt Dime
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver America the Beautiful Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska Quarter
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver America the Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Quarter
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver America the Beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Quarter
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver America the Beautiful Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Quarter
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver America the Beautiful Saratoga National Historical Park, New York Quarter
- 2015-S 90 Percent Silver Kennedy Half Dollar
- 2015-S President Harry Truman Dollar
- 2015-S President Dwight D. Eisenhower Dollar
- 2015-S President John F. Kennedy Dollar
- 2015-S President Lyndon B. Johnson Dollar
- 2015-S Mohawk Ironworkers Dollar
2015 Presidential $1 Coin & Chronicles Sets
Total Coins: 4
Issue Price: $231.80
Face Value: $4
Contents:
- 2015-P President Harry Truman Dollar Reverse Proof $1 Coin
- 2015-P President Dwight D. Eisenhower Dollar Reverse Proof $1 Coin
- 2015-P President John F. Kennedy Dollar Reverse Proof $1 Coin
- 2015-P President Lyndon B. Johnson Dollar Reverse Proof $1 Coin
2015 March of Dimes Special Silver Proof Set
Total Coins: 3
Issue Price: $61.95
Face Value: $1.20
Contents:
- 2015-S Proof March of Dimes Dollar
- 2015-P Reverse Proof Roosevelt Dime
- 2015-W Proof Roosevelt Dime
2015-P March of Dimes Uncirculated Silver Dollar
Issue Price: $48.95
Face Value: $1
2015 U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary 3-Coin Proof Set
Total Coins: 3
Issue Price: $473.90
Face Value: $6.50
Contents:
- 2015-W U.S. Marshals Proof $5 Gold Half Eagle
- 2015-P U.S. Marshals Proof $1 Silver Dollar
- 2015-S U.S. Marshals Proof Copper-Nickel Clad Half Dollar
2015-W U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Uncirculated $5 Gold Half Eagle
Issue Price: $407.60
Face Value: $5
2015-P U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Uncirculated Silver Dollar
Issue Price: $48.95
Face Value: $1
2015-D U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Copper-Nickel Clad Half Dollar
Issue Price: $17.95
Face Value: 50 cents
2015 Gold American Eagle Proof Set
Total Coins: 4
Issue Price: $2,890.00
Face Value: $90
Contents:
- 2015-W 1-Ounce $50 Gold
- 2015-W 1/2-Ounce $25 Gold
- 2015-W 1/4-Ounce $10 Gold
- 2015-W 1/10-Ounce $5 Gold
2015-W Silver American Eagle Proof
Issue Price: $48.95
Face Value: $1
2015 Silver American Eagle Uncirculated
Issue Price: $39.95
Face Value: $1
2015 American Buffalo One-Ounce Gold Buffalo Proof
Issue Price: $1,590.00
Face Value: $50
2015 Bess Truman 1/2-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Issue Price: $815.00
Face Value: $10
2015 Bess Truman 1/2-ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin
Issue Price: $795.00
Face Value: $10
2015 Mamie Eisenhower 1/2-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Issue Price: $815.00
Face Value: $10
2015 Mamie Eisenhower 1/2-Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin
Issue Price: $795.00
Face Value: $10
2015 Jacqueline Kennedy 1/2-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Issue Price: $815.00
Face Value: $10
2015 Jacqueline Kennedy 1/2-Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin
Issue Price: $795.00
Face Value: $10
2015 “Lady Bird” Johnson 1/2-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Issue Price: $815.00
Face Value: $10
2015 “Lady Bird” Johnson 1/2-Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin
Issue Price: $795.00
Face Value: $10
2015 American Liberty High-Relief Gold Coin
Issue Price: $1,640.00
Face Value: $100
2015 America the Beautiful 5-Ounce Silver Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska Quarter
Issue Price: $149.95
Face Value: 25 Cents
2015 America the Beautiful 5-Ounce Silver Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana Quarter
Issue Price: $149.95
Face Value: 25 Cents
2015 America the Beautiful 5-Ounce Silver Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Quarter
Issue Price: $149.95
Face Value: 25 Cents
2015 America the Beautiful 5-Ounce Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware Quarter
Issue Price: $149.95
Face Value: 25 Cents
2015 America the Beautiful 5-Ounce Saratoga National Historical Park, New York Quarter
Issue Price: $149.95
Face Value: 25 Cents
Total Coins Purchased: 292
Total Issue Price: $14,915.30
Face Value: $422.09
Bullion Coins Released Only Through Distributors
Several of the Mint’s popular bullion-related products can only be purchased through authorized bullion distributors. These coins are nevertheless bought by collectors and are listed here for anecdotal purposes:
- 2015 1-Ounce Gold Uncirculated: Issue Price Varied (2015 Avg. $1,300); Face Value – $50
- 2015 1/2-Ounce Gold Uncirculated: Issue Price Varied (Avg. $670); Face Value – $25
- 2015 1/4-Ounce Gold Uncirculated: Issue Price Varied (Avg. $350); Face Value – $10
- 2015 1/10-Ounce Gold Uncirculated: Issue Price Varied (Avg. $130); Face Value – $5
- 2015 Silver American Eagle Bullion: Issue Price Varied (Avg. $24); Face Value – $1
- 2015 American Buffalo One-Ounce Gold Buffalo Bullion: Issue Price Varied (Avg. $1,325); Face Value – $50
Average purchase price in 2015: $3,799.00
Total Face Value: $141.00
Numismatic Coins + Bullion Coins Purchase Price: $18,714.30
Total Face Value: $563.09
So there you have it – the total cost of buying one example of every coin put out by the United States Mint in 2015. It would cost a whopping $14,207.71 over face value just to buy the numismatic products… an average markup of more than 3,800 percent!
Talk about a “seigniorage” moment…
You need to add the presidential coins and chronicles sets, the 2015 $1 coins and chronicles set to get the reverse proofs dollar coins and the 5 “S” business strike quarter rolls. I do not remember the cost. I am sure someone can help
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the catch! Josh got me the numbers and the article has been updated.
The concluding statistics of this article seem misleading in that most of this “markup” consists of the residual melt value of the bullion products. Consider the 2015 Gold American Eagle Proof Set. Comparing the face $90 to the price of $2,890 is comparing apples to oranges since it is the price of the gold driving the residual value of the coins, not the face value on these coins. At the current market price of gold around $1,220/oz., this would make the residual value of the set roughly $2,257, which would be much more appropriate to use as a figure to derive the real markup of the mint’s prices versus the residual value of the coins they sold.
Hi, John!
While the objective of this article is to specifically highlight seignorage over face value, though it is true that the bullion value of the American Eagle gold, silver, and platinum coins compared to their respective sales prices is an important factor to also showcase.
Warm regards,
Josh
Did you miss the American Eagle one oz platinum proof coin that a few mint customers were able to acquire? That could easily take the total over $16,000. It’s not only tough or nearly impossible for the collectors to keep track but also difficult to evaluate and record. Wonder if anybody, even the mint, actually has possession of all of the 2015 varieties.
Hi, Tim!
Thanks for pointing that out. During my phone calls to the Mint I inquired about platinum coins but through my own oversight didn’t ask about specifically proof versions. I appreciate your taking time to share your comment here.
All the best,
Josh
As pointed out on Reddit’s Silverbugs forum by user ‘tacopwnsyou’ – This list is actually incomplete. It only lists the 5oz ATB uncirculated versions. I realize at the end it says “and with bullion available only from dealers” but it fails to add it to that tally. Also it doesn’t call the ATBs that it does list “Uncirculated” despite showing the telltale mint price of 149.95. Pretty good list, but not perfect.