Silver Kennedy set bigger than gold Kennedy?

The U.S. Mint is planning the perfect culmination for its 50th anniversary Kennedy half dollar offerings when the silver set goes on sale Oct. 28.

“I think the silver set will outshine the gold Kennedy half dollar,” said David Hendrickson, owner of SilverTowne, Winchester, Ind.

The silver set will attract a lot of collectors because of the price point and the unique finishes used on each of the four .900 fine silver coins, he said.

Priced at $99.95, the set will feature a proof half dollar from Philadelphia, an uncirculated half dollar from Denver, a reverse proof coin from West Point and an enhanced uncirculated coin from San Francisco.

“I could see it selling well here in the U.S. as well as overseas in Europe, where a lot of people really like Kennedy,” Hendrickson said.

With some 13 different styles of the 2014 Kennedy half dollar, the silver set was the right end to the year, he said.

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“I think it’s a good send off to end the 2014 Kennedy coins on a high note,” he said.

Matt Crane of L&C Coins, Los Alamitos, Calif., said that he hadn’t heard much about the set.

“I think that we were used to getting so much hype with the gold Kennedy half dollar that it overshadowed the silver Kennedy set,” he said.

Because of that, he hadn’t seen the set or heard customers talking about it, he said.

“I think it will overshadow the gold Kennedy half dollar once it comes out, though, as the set is very affordable,” he said.

The clad Kennedy set that came in July sold really well, better than expectations, he said.

“We’ll probably purchase some (silver) sets in order to get them graded. We’re only looking to sell the MS- and PF-69s and -70s,” he said.

When asked whether he thought there would be the same hype for the silver Kennedy set, Crane said, “not necessarily.”

“I think that people won’t buy them up like they did with the gold Kennedy, but I do think it will be a popular set,” he said.

The finishes of the set will really draw the collectors in, he said.

“I think that this set is really comparable to the 2011 25th Anniversary Silver American Eagle Set,” Crane said.

Richard Lecce, president of Robert B. Lecce Numismatist Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., said that he would buy a few sets for himself as a collector.

“I think it’s a beautiful set. The set has a few things working for it as the Mint is trying new things with the enhanced uncirculated receiving a heavy laser frosting treatment,” he said.

The unlimited mintage would also be a big factor for collector interest in the set, Lecce said.

“The Mint is in the business of selling collector coins, but the collector desire to purchase such a coin or set diminishes when there’s no mintage limit,” he said.

Still, he said that a good price would ease collector’s hesitation towards buying an unlimited mintage coin set.

“At $100 for the set, though, you have to think that you’re getting four beautiful silver Kennedy half dollars for $25 a coin,” Lecce said.

Most people collecting Kennedy half dollars would be able to afford the silver set, he said.

“I imagine that most people who bought the gold Kennedy half dollar will probably buy a set. The collectors who didn’t purchase or couldn’t afford the gold Kennedy will also probably order a set as it’s much cheaper than the gold Kennedy,” Lecce said.

The price and time it was going on sale also make the silver Kennedy set a great holiday gift idea, he said.

“I think many people could afford it and give it to their kids or grandkids as a holiday gift,” Lecce said.

The legacy of collectors passing coin gifts down to younger generations was on his mind, he said.

“My father bought me coins as gifts when I was younger. Now that I have children of my own, I’ll purchase a silver Kennedy set for each of them,” Lecce said.