Difference in values in proof sets

[bobcat6000]

I've been adding to my proof set collection lately. In pricing the 1986-S proof set, I've come across something that I can't explain. The 2006 Red Book lists the value of the 1986-S proof set at $24.00 while the 1985-S is listed at $7.00 and the 1987-S is listed at $6.00. My first thought was that the Statue of Liberty silver dollar was included in the 1986 set, but that is not the case. The same five coins are in the 1985,1986 and 1987 sets. Why the huge differences in value ? Mintage numbers for the 3 years were 1985: 3.4 mil, 1986: 2.4 mil, and 1987: 3.8 mil. Is the 30%+ drop in mintage enough to explain a 400% increase in value? Any ideas or information would be appreciated greatly.

[pdxcollections]

If you wanted to collect a proof set of modern pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters or halves (perhaps more to the point - a lot of people collect the Kennedy halves and have a book that includes the proofs as well as the regular issues) then the only way to get some of them is to buy a proof set and break it up. Since a lot of people do that, a certain baseline number of these sets get purchased just to break up for collectors of these series. The number of full sets remaining are left to supply proof set collectors and those who buy them to commemorate birth days and so forth. Plus new series collectors who also may break up a set to get all the coins. A long way of saying that yes, the drop in mintage is enough to account for the increase in value. Note also that the greysheet value is 4.50 for 1985 and $11 for 1986.

[bobcat6000]

Thanks for your reply pdx. You know I had a feeling that the Kennedy half dollar might be the answer to my question the other day. The 1986-S Kennedy is valued at $10.00 while the 1985-S is valued at $4.00. I haven't gotten into the Kennedy collection much so far. Guess that will be for next year.