Grades are In! 1977 Toned Proof Set. **New Videos Added**
keyman64
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PCGS Received these coins on 3/30. Grades posted and were shipped today, 5/10.
I submitted all the coins except for the cent. It was a gamble as I spent way too much on this raw set but hopefully I’m not buried. These coins were out of the norm for anything I typically deal with and now I need to figure out the potential value. Your thoughts are appreciated.
I think this was my first modern submission. From a PCGS price guide perspective, these coins are “worth” $60. The toning should be worth more than that. Fingers crossed. I’ll update the thread when the True Views post.
Nickel Graded Proof 68 DCAM
Dime Graded Proof 68 DCAM
Quarter Graded Proof 68 DCAM
Half Graded Proof 68 DCAM
Dollar Graded Proof 68 DCAM
https://youtube.com/shorts/RCjAesd3pLA
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Comments
I would imagine for future resale you may have been better off by submitting the cent, as well, so that the future buyer would have a complete and matched set. As for the grades, you did well since I would have thought a QT assignment on more than one of the coins was likely.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I agree on the cent but my cent was nothing special and had a partial finger print on it. I figured I might be able to pick up a 1977 cent already graded to make the complete set, granted it won't be in a consecutive cert number.
As for the QT possibility, it has been on my mind for the last couple months. Lol. I was wondering if I was going to be kicking myself or not.
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The pcgs grading fees alone on these buried you
Very attractive toned proofs.
While the PF68DCAM grades are nice, I would be more impressed if these coins graded PF68.
I like it. I think it's cool. I was 10 years old in 77. What is QT?
Quite possible. Lol
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Questionable toning / Artificial Toning / Questionable Color
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Sometimes it isn’t about the money. It’s about the hunt and getting the grade.
I have seen toned 'moderns' sell for 10X PCGS guide, and so have you
can't wait for the TrueViews to post
I am a little surprised the IKE straight graded.
True Views just added to the original post.
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@keyman64 ... Well, I would bet you recoup your investment just on the tarnish factor alone. Probably best to sell individually (I am not a dealer, just my impression of the market now). Good luck, let us know how it goes. Cheers, RickO
Possible, but I think that’s extremely unlikely. In fact, I could see any one of the individual coins covering the grading fees, all by itself.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I see myself needing to get the cent graded now so that I have the entire set, even though the cent isn’t anything too special.
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You could always see how it goes, offering the coins, without the cent. And if someone’s interested in the whole set and wants the cent, you could add it to the deal.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The “someone” that might be interested in the entire set just might be me. Lol
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Agreed; now that they are straight graded, he will not be buried in these.
I might be incorrect, but I see nothing that leads me to believe these are naturally toned. Nonetheless, I wish you well in selling if that's the goal.
The Trueview photos reveal coins that appear to have flawless surfaces (no dings, marks, scratches or spots) and that have developed very eye appealing (sorry Ricko) multi colored pastel toning covering both sides of each coin.
Unless you could quickly find another 1977 S proof cent graded PF68DCAM with similar toning I would send in the cent you have in your possession for grading. Even if it does not graded PF68DCAM, it makes this proof set complete.
I expect that once the set is complete you would have no problem selling it (as a set) to collectors who like toned proofs (I do not know if he collects post 1964 proof sets, but if he does I could see El Dorado becoming enamored with this set).
If fact, I like this set more every time that I look at it.
So are you going to submit this set to QA in the hopes of receiving a QA sticker on each coin? (Gotta have a sticker, right?)
P.S. I am also surprised that PCGS gave these coins a DCAM designation. I have submitted toned proof and SMS coins from 1950 to 1970 that have deeply mirrored fields and heavily frosted devices. Very few have received a CAM designation, let alone a DCAM designation. Heavy toning usually precludes a CAM or a DCAM designation. It would be a treat to see your newly graded PF68DCAM coins in hand under good lighting.
I think @Eldorado9 would probably end up passing on the set. It’s more of a specialist item, and someone needs to really like the color pattern.
Coin Photographer.
Wow, that set is something else!
Flying Al.
El Dorado does like toned proofs.
Whether he would like cotton candy pastel colored toned proofs from the 1970s is uncertain. Perhaps he will post a reply to this thread and let us know.
Your set looks very well matched. However, I am in the camp that thinks none of them are naturally toned, even on a bathroom window sill in Florida. PCGS seems to be very lenient on color than they are on RD copper which they always grade QC. Perhaps that is due to the price difference. They have limited liability on modern coinage and they do not guarantee color anyway. But on w PR IHC the difference between RD and RB can be significant. And while they do not guarantee color, there are no color designations on silver coins. Thus, they are more conservative when grading a naturally RD coin.
Good luck on the 1977 cent as they are hard to find toned. And they are the most likely coin of that year to posses natural toning because they are copper and not silver.
OINK
I will share that the TVs are a bit overexposed with light because it is difficult to capture all the colors on toned proofs otherwise, particularly with DCAM. The video gives a pretty good idea of how they are in hand. Overall, I am of course ver pleased with the grades and True Views.
@SanctionII I will definitely drop the cent in the mail next week. And yes, I will get these in front of QA at Summer ANA if they are there…or Winter FUN. I know QA will not be at Summer FUN unfortunately. I’m looking forward to it. It’s definitely a cool set.
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Your post just got a lot more interesting. I looked to see if I could find you a 1977-S PR cent. And guess what I found in my 1936-present toned Lincoln set;
PR67 BN POP 1/0 in BN
And the closest to it is in Metalllurgists #1 set:
PR66BN POP1/1
Very difficult, almost impossible, coin with color. Most collectors just have an RB without color. Your best chance might be to find a RAW (or NGC/ANACS......) 1977 with color and have it graded by PCGS.
Good Luck.
OINK
keyman64
What is the back story on this proof set?
Too much purple is a bad sign, my eyes see AT.
@OldIndianNutKase Those are awesome, especially the top one. Both would be a great fit!
@SanctionII
Yup, here’s the story.
A dealer that goes to a lot of the bigger national shows invited me to his house to pick through a bunch of stuff he recently got in. He knew a couple well from the northeast that collected for decades. He had paper, silver, gold, proof sets, mint sets and he liked toners a lot. He passed away and left instructions with his wife to sell everything to this dealer. I took a big risk on this particular Capital Plastics holdered proof set. I also bought 7 nicely toned 1959 proof sets from him. He had a couple dozen 1959 proof sets that were all toned similarly and in the original packaging. I took videos of the coins in the packaging before I submitted 12 coins from those sets and they are in the encapsulation stage at PCGS right now. There were also two MS silver Washington quarters that I picked up. That stuff will be for another thread though.
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<~~~
Not always, this whole mint set (avatar) was purple straight from the cellophane. Even the cent is purple but too nasty to grade. I will have the Ike graded later prolly 64/5 but I think the color will sell it.
Yeah, me too? I had an awesome Ike in an old PCI Slab, that had the same "Purplish" look. I reclaimed my purchase from the seller after I had nothing but "Red Flag" warnings from you guys in the forum. And I understood why at the time.
So, YES, I'm very surprised the Ike straight graded.
Good for you, though!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.You’re confusing neon purple mixed with a dynamic blue to your coins which are closer to a brown mixed with grey tone.
Think of the toning as vivid versus subtle, which at least raises the question about AT or NT.
Nope.
I'd be a buyer of just the Ike at $300. and I'll bet you the OP wouldn't even consider that offer.
peacockcoins
I think they are gorgeous coins! Not in my wheelhouse in terms of designs and date ranges. I suppose I am slightly suspicious of the color, although the experts at PCGS obviously liked them. Very pretty!
I don't like the color on any of them. I have owned a lot of toners, wouldn't buy those. One man's opinion.
Wowzers I can't believe those straight graded. Time to start sending everything in to PCGS ASAP so I can cash out!!
It helps to understand a little bit how photography is done for toned proofs. Flood lights are used. The True Views are a little over exposed, a bit too bright. They make it look like the coins are electrified or radioactive. All the color is there and they are super cool, just not nearly as crazy as the photos indicate. I did these videos on my phone in my kitchen so they aren’t the best but they should give you a much better idea of how they look in hand. Here are the videos…
Nickel https://youtube.com/shorts/cWaSkjK6N40
Dime https://youtube.com/shorts/-HNI8sUpyPU
Quarter https://youtube.com/shorts/zW5hrg8nxYg
Half https://youtube.com/shorts/6T81dMfqP5o
Dollar https://youtube.com/shorts/wixd7Dn58C4
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I too was suspicious of the color before that last set of videos. The most convincing part of the coins is when the color isn't turned to the light and the color patterns show as darker parts of toning. The colors fade to a deep brown tone, and then pop when turned to the light (darker areas of color remain a darker brown). That's what I'd expect for a naturally toned proof.
I've seen the exact same tone pattern on proof sets from the era I know are natural, so I'm quite certain the cent through half are natural. I'm not as sure about the dollar, as it isn't quite the same as the others for whatever reason. That's just my gut feeling though.
I think the TrueViews are among the newer photos that aren't turning out like they did years ago. You can compare the look of the OP TVs and one of a 1977 cent that @OldIndianNutKase posted and see the difference. This caused the coins to look more AT to me.
Coin Photographer.
The nickel and dime look the most natural out of all of them.. Sorry but I don't have confidence in the Ike. The true views are horrible for proofs I feel. Maybe these coins were graded on a Friday afternoon and not a Monday morning 🤣
The Ike is a monster!
Super cool coin.
On a side note: As these all came from the same source/holder- if you have confidence in a couple of the coins, that should allow confidence in them all.
I doubt this is a put-together set, with some being NT and others AT.
Especially as they all have a somewhat similar look.
peacockcoins
This is the “art & science” of submitting. Think about it. The cent through half are natural tone with heat & humid conditions. Clearly natural tone. Now, you include a wild ike that could easily grade AT, and it gets a pass because of the other coins. The submitter can throw the cent through half in the garbage now they’ve served their purpose on the submission form, sell the ike for $300, and smell like a rose.
Smartest submission I’ve seen on these message boards in a while.
I know we talk about the BN designation and how desirable it is. But I think I can make the case for the best '77 Proof Lincoln on the Planet.
I love them all but the Jeff Nickel is awesomely beautiful!
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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