2009 US Mint Proof Set
2009 US Mint Proof Set - Click to Enlarge
The most popular set the United States Mint offers each year is one that includes all the recent American coinage struck in special collector proof condition. The clad 2009 US Mint Proof Set launched on June 1 for $29.95, and includes 18 coins -- the most ever for a proof set.
It is the most unique set in years. And not just because of the coin count or the included six 2009 DC & US Territories Quarters and four 2009 Presidential Dollars bearing new coin designs.
The standout in the set is the one-year only 2009 Lincoln Cents that celebrate Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial birthday and the 100th anniversary of the very first 1909 penny. The collector excitement for the four redesigned pennies, with each featuring a differing aspect of Lincoln's life, is high. But further, each new penny in the proof set is composed of the same bronze alloy of that original 1909 cent -- 95% copper, 3% zinc and 2% tin.
The copper content of pennies has been reduced through the years because of high costs. Modern circulating pennies are compose of copper plated zinc (2.5% copper with remaining zinc).
As it does every year, the US Mint strikes the coins at its San Francisco facility and each bears the "S" mint mark. All 18 coins are in proof condition. The Mint describes proof coins as:
"Extraordinarily brilliant, with sharp relief and a mirror-like background. Their frosted, sculpted foregrounds give them a special cameo effect. Proof blanks are specially treated, polished and cleaned to ensure high-quality strikes. The blanks are then fed into presses fitted with specially polished dies and struck at least twice to ensure sharp relief."
Depicted by the proof set image, the 2009 proof set contains four lens coin holders. That is one more than typical for recent years. One lens includes the 2009 Lincoln Cents, another contains 2009 Presidential Dollars, one lens is for the 2009 DC & US Territories Quarters and the final is for the remaining proof coins to include the Roosevelt dime, Kennedy half dollar, 2009 Native American dollar and the Jefferson nickel.
Sales of the sets were on fire during their inaugural week. Amazingly, 437,178 of the sets were sold from Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 7, according to US Mint sales figures. They passed the million marker by Sept. 6, 2009.
Here is a list of all the coins within the 2009 US Mint Proof Set:
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The United States Mint has several different types of proof set offerings this year, including:
- 2009 US Mint Silver Proof Set
- 2009 US Mint DC & US Territories Quarters Proof Set
- 2009 US Mint DC & US Territories Quarters Silver Proof Set
- 2009 US Mint Presidential Dollars Proof Set
- 2009 Lincoln Cent Proof Set
- Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set
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US $8.50
2009 United States Mint Proof Set® Specifications
The following is a scan of the 2009 proof set specification sheet included with the coins.
2009 United States Mint Proof Set Specifications - Click to Enlarge
