1997 American Eagle Impressions of Liberty pr set

JoeHolt

I need some Info if any of the great coin Gods can help me. I came across a 1997 American Eagle Impressions of Liberty Proof set at a local flea market the set is in a wooden bob with felt each of the 3 coins are in airtite type holders the 3 coins are the 1oz Platinum, 1 oz gold and the 1oz silver eagles the set has a number of 0257 and also comes with a CoA that was hand signed by someone from the US Mint I think the last name was Dahl or something like that. Does anyone know anything about this set? I made the dive and put in in layaway I hope to get it out next month the coins were all deep cameo and whispering my name when I get this in my hands I want to so much send it for gradeing the coin in this set looks alot better then the silver eagle pr69dc I have. any help would be nice

Thankyou Joe Holt

JoeHolt

bump

Blade

Joe,
Interesting. I wasn't buying sets in 1997 so this is new to me too. I am wondering how the proof SAE could look that much nicer than a certified 69DC. What makes is so much nicer?

kranky

Found a press release on the Mint site that said the set was issued on only in 1997 and it sold originally for $1,499. The mintage of 5,000 sold out.

supercoin

They are cool sets, they sold out pretty quickly -- I tried to buy one and missed out, and would have had to pay a substantial premium to get it at the time. I don't know what they've done lately. The premium is basically for the packaging.

How much did you find it for if you don't mind sharing?

supercoin

Ack! Just saw you were mentioning sending the coins for grading -- don't do it! See my previous post about the packaging premium.

Blade

Agree completely with Supercoin. The value is in the original set. If you're looking for 3 slabbed 1997 proofs, buy them individually and save the premium.

ara

I have seen that set on eBay a quite a few times. 1997 is the first year of the platinum eagle and the mint assembled a set of 1 troy ounce gold silver and platinum. Even at it's lowest sell on eBay, I seem to remember that it still went over $1,000.

Dog97

Individually the coins slabbed in Proof 69 DCam sell for around $800 for the Plat, $600 for the Gold and $100 for the Silver but I have seen the Plats sell for as high as $1,100.

JoeHolt

Ok I have got the set in a layaway with the dealer he runs a jewelry shop and coins are his hobbie he said he dont mess with the newer coins much but has some great older coins for sale also .

about the difference in the silver eagle in this set and mine I guess it is just one of those things that fool the eye but it seemes so much more deep and the finish is almost as you could reach into the coin I would love to be able to compare the finish of the gold or plat coins with other proofs of the same year and see if they are the same.

Ill hold off on the sending for gradeing part of the reason is it will be about 30 days before I finish paying for the set and also Im curious about the value of this.

In talking with the dealer I am getting it from he knew nothing much about it and had just got it in a large purchase he had done early in this week I was the first person who even asked about it. He also has some very nice older coins that are not slabed but could go from 63-66.

I got what I think was a really great deal on the set ill just say it was cheaper then the issue price.

If you see one for sale elsewhere let me know please also when I get it here Ill try to get a picture or two of it up here.

Happy Collecting
Joe holt

MJCoin

Joe, I bought one of those sets from the U.S. Mint in 1997. Because of the hoopla of the 1997 Botanical Coin and Currency Sets, I sent my order off next day express, and received 5 Botanical Sets and the Impressions of Liberty Set. It is a beautiful set, with every coin possesing a strong strike, deep cameo contrast and flawless surfaces. I'm really glad I sent the order off fast or they would have sold out a few days later.

JoeHolt

Michael

In you opinon how does the coins in your set compare to other proofs you see from that year could they of picked the cream of the crop for these sets that are the only numbered sets and also comes autographed by the president of the mint . just stramge thought here

Joe

supercoin

No, the mint doesn't go to that much trouble, I'm afraid. You just got lucky with a nice coin. Now, PUT DOWN THE KNIFE AND STEP AWAY FROM THE SET!

Sigh... if you're determined to crack out the silver eagle, you could buy a replacement for $40 or whatever (they were sold separately) and swap the capsule with that in your Impressions set. But, you won't respect yourself in the morning.

MJCoin

Not a strange thought at all. I do believe this set to contain the "cream of the crop". The same thing happened in 1995-1996 with the 32 piece Olympic Set. Ask anyone that owns one of these beauties and you'll find out real fast how astonishing these coins are compared to the single option issued coins. As far as my opinion, keep the set just as it is in it's original presentation box, with the papers, packaging, Phillip Diehls' autograph and all.

MJCoin

Supercoin, yes the US Mint of today would not even think of going to that much effort, but I honestly believe the US Mint under Diehl's rein would have.

supercoin

Hmm... if you say so. I've seen a couple of these sets since, and the coins were nothing special. But maybe somebody "pulled a Joe" on them before I got to them.

I liked Diehl too, but the mint still put out their share of clunkers under him, at least with the Platinum proofs. Kind of aggravating on a $700+ coin.

ara

I was also under the impression that these were basically the same as the other proofs but pulled together for the set. The RCM was first to do this in 1989 when they first put out the platinum Maple Leaf. They put out a 3 metal coin proof set of 1 oz gold, silver and platinum Maple Leaf. I believe that Australia did the same thing for a few years in the 90s with their Kangaroo gold, Koala platinum and Kookaburra silver.