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…

