With today’s release of the United States Mint’s 2023 Proof Set, coin collectors at noon ET have the opportunity to purchase one of their favorite annual products.
Found within the set are ten clad proof-quality examples of the nation’s circulating coins. Produced at the San Francisco Mint, each coin features a sharp relief and a mirror-like background, complemented by a frosted, sculpted foreground. Proof coins are struck multiple times using polished dies and hand-polished blanks, resulting in an enhanced level of detail.
Five of the strikes are issued as part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters™ Program and are presented together in one protective lens. Their designs are unique to this year. (These same clad coins are available separately as a part of their own product, the Mint’s 2023 Quarters Proof Set.)
Additionally, the set includes a sixth coin that is also year-specific in design, the Native American dollar. The Mint had previously released rolls, bags, and boxes of this dollar at prices ranging from $34.50 to $289.75. However, it is important to note that these dollars have a regular circulating finish.
The set includes four additional coins with familiar designs that have been consistently used for years — the cent, nickel, dime and half dollar.
Altogether, the 2023 Proof Set consists of ten coins, which are:
- 2023-S Maria Tallchief Native American $1 Coin
- 2023-S Kennedy Half Dollar
- 2023-S Bessie Coleman Quarter
- 2023-S Edith Kanakaʻole Quarter
- 2023-S Eleanor Roosevelt Quarter
- 2023-S Jovita Idar Quarter
- 2023-S Maria Tallchief Quarter
- 2023-S Roosevelt Dime
- 2023-S Jefferson Nickel
- 2023-S Lincoln Cent
Specifications for the coins, as provided by the U.S. Mint, are as follows:
| Denomination: | Penny | Nickel | Dime | Quarter | Half Dollar | Native American $1 Coin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish: | Proof | Proof | Proof | Proof | Proof | Proof |
| Composition: | 2.5% copper, balance zinc | 25% nickel, balance copper | 8.33% nickel, balance copper | 8.33% nickel, balance copper | 8.33% nickel, balance copper | 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% nickel, balance copper |
| Weight: | 2.500 grams | 5.000 grams | 2.268 grams | 5.670 grams | 11.340 grams | 8.100 grams |
| Diameter: | 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) | 0.835 inch (21.21 mm) | 0.705 inch (17.91 mm) | 0.955 inch (24.26 mm) | 1.205 inches (30.61 mm) | 1.043 inches (26.49 mm) |
| Edge: | Plain | Plain | Reeded | Reeded | Reeded | Lettered |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | San Francisco – S | San Francisco – S | San Francisco – S | San Francisco – S | San Francisco – S | San Francisco – S |
Price and Ordering
The 2023 Proof Set is offered at $35, representing an increase of $3 compared to when last year’s set was released. This set had last reported sales of 399,832.
To place an order for the new release, you can visit the Mint’s store page dedicated to annual sets, which can be found here.
$35 I think not.
Yeah, this is one of the few mint products I’m still a sucker for – i’ve got one for every year since 1955 so it’s hard to stop now. I’ll probably keep buying them until the mint switches to aluminum or steel
one spot on e- PAY says pre sale, 7 sold 3 available for only 48.75.
another indicates the ‘proof’ dollar coin from the set, 92 sold, 8 available only 8.78. though I see in the notes above “However, it is important to note that these dollars have a regular circulating finish.”
Ill be waiting for the overpriced silver proof set
Domenic,
Overpriced is true on the silver Proof set! The Mint raised the price of it by $25 from last year, from $105 to $130… While silver has been dropping this year and today is about $22.50 an ounce. I will buy 1 set to keep my collection going, but not the 5 sets I have always bought in past years since 1976.
NumisdudeTX
Major D
You are on to something there for sure. Most U.S. Mint “modern” annual Proof sets (1968 forward for example) can be purchased now for less than issue price or not much higher. Even some silver Proof coin sets can be purchased for less than issue price or close to issue price. Sometimes waiting to make a common, unlimited mintage Proof coin set purchase like these can be rewarding, if one is the type that can wait.
NumisdudeTX
yeah, the problem is that if you want ‘all’ then ‘most’ will be cheap but ‘some’ will be way overpriced. for example the 2012 proof set still has a fairly nutty price
c_q
Yes, the 2012 Proof sets were an anomaly for sure. But the price is way down on those from the height of the market on those sets (about $95 for the 2912 clad set now). The reason that happened in 2012 is because the Mint stopped selling them without warning & they were supposed to be “unlimited” mintage as usual, so many collectors who put off purchasing the sets that year got a big surprise & started buying multiple sets from coin dealers & the prices skyrocketed. As you say, it is “nutty”.
NumisdudeTX
Kaiser,
I too prefer to purchase most items I’m interested in on issue day directly from the Mint. It is beyond me why many people do not know they can purchase items directly from the Mint & instead turn to the “Wild West” of eBay & HSN etc. to purchase new Mint products.
NumisdudeTX
well, for $400 divided by about 70 proof sets works out to about $6 more per set – I guess you can call that a premium for potentially getting a higher-grade set from the mint directly than you would likely get buying aftermarket (since those resale sets have almost certainly already been checked for any higher-grade coins). given that a higher-grade coin, even just one per set, would command a premium way over $6, it may work out better getting from the mint – though this of course means hoping you get lucky which is no guarantee. but the chances… Read more »
wondering how to figure out how many sets are still available,any method?
I received my shipment of 2023 proof sets in and I found an interesting one. I have enclosed a picture of it. Though all of my years of ordering sets, I have never received one like this. Has anyone else received one similar to this?