When proofs resumed in 1968, the price was raised to $5.00. The coins were now enclosed in a more solid holder, so I suppose the price increase had some justification, but that and the ugly clad coins turned me off and I stopped buying proof sets.
I did buy a 2013 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver set last year. That also is in a better holder, and cost me $36.90. The coins are silver, so there may be some argument for that price, but even the 14 coin 2014 proof set (no silver) is $27.95.
Certainly it's good that coin collectors can help defray some of our taxes by giving the Mint these astonishing profit margins, but is it really necessary to charge so much? As a young boy with a $2 weekly allowance, I could afford the $2.10 yearly expense, but I wonder if $27.95 is so easy for today's 7-10 year olds. Perhaps it is: Average Allowances in America, by Age says that $16 per week is about average.
It still seems too expensive to this old fogey.
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Note: All my coins are in a safe deposit box. I keep nothing in my home.
