A Golden Opportunity for the Holidays by Peter Rexford on Creators.com

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The economy suggests this is a time to save. The holidays in general, however, have traditionally been a time to spend. I've received a curious array of mail asking about suggestions for affordable and, well, somewhat extravagant gifts. Not all of these requests have not been about presents designed solely for collectors but also people in general. Whatever your budget, let's take a look at both.

One staple gift has long been the yearly "mint" or "proof" sets of coins produced by the U.S. Mint. These are the coins issued throughout the year. Mint coins are uncirculated versions that have no wear on them. Proof coins are those struck on specially polished metal multiple times for a mirror finish on presses designed just for that purpose.

Some mint and proof sets dating back to the 1930s and '40s can be worth upward of $1,000 to $6,000. Over the years, as popularity of the sets grew and more were made and sold, the long-term value of later issued sets dropped appreciably. Most of those produced as recently as the 1960s are today worth as little as $3 or $4 or as high as $50 or more. Quite a few even sell for less than what collectors paid for them.

So, are these a good gift or not? Yes, so long as you don't count on them as an investment. They may go up in value, but the likelihood isn't big. Then again, rarely are holiday gifts intended as something to appreciate in value, but rather something to be appreciated. Proof sets especially are ideal for gifts, be they for Christmas or Hanukkah or for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc.

This year, proof or mint sets could be special because of the number of different coins minted yet rarely seen. I'm referring to not only the Presidential Golden Dollars, which few if any people see in their change, but also to the four pennies commemorating the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

Comparatively speaking, the 2009 mint or proof sets being offered by the Mint are not unreasonably priced considering all the coins they contain.

Priced at $27.95 and $29.95 respectively, each contains all 18 coins issued this past year (including the dollars), quarters showing U.S. territories, Lincoln pennies and the standard circulating coins in everyday change. The Mint set actually contains 36 coins because one each from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints are included. The 18 coins in the proof sets are struck at the San Francisco Mint.

Both sets can be viewed and are available directly from the U.S. Mint on their website at www.usmint.gov or by calling their toll free number at 1-800-USA- MINT.

Now let's look at the other end of the spectrum. For the first time in many years, one of the upside-down airplane (Inverted Jenny) 24-cent stamps printed in 1918 is up for sale. The thing is, it isn't just any one of the 100 stamps made back then.

The one to be sold on Dec. 11, at New York's Four Season Hotel, is the original one purchased by Col. Edward Green — the man who first purchased the famed sheet of stamps. This particular stamp is housed in a gold locket with the inverted stamp on one side and one that's not inverted on the reverse.

The locket with stamps was made by Green and given to his wife the year he found the pane of stamps. Granted, at the time, the cost to him was only 48 cents for the stamps and a few bucks for the locket, but the value today is expected to be between $200,000 and $300,000.

The pedigree behind the stamp is one of the big draws. It's not the most perfectly centered version, but being one of the few that Green kept for himself and the only one not to have been previously sold by the Green family makes this a one-of-a-kind treasure.

This item is well beyond the reach of most (I'm at the front of that line), but would be a spectacular stocking stuffer for a very special collector or — more appropriately — his wife.

For more information or to receive a sale catalog, contact Heritage/Bennett Auctions at 1-800-872-6467 or log onto their website at www.stamps.ha.com. It's worth a look. After all, we can all dream.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of one of the famous 1918 inverted Jenny stamps has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.