1999 proof quality question

Unknown

Hey everyone, I recently became interested in collecting coins. I guess I can be lumped with the ever poplular State Quarters group.

Last week I received a 1999 10 coin proof set from Mintproducts.com. The coins do look nice, but on the obverse side of the Pennsylvania Quarter there is a small rub (for lack of better word) on Washington's neck. The flaw looks slightly reddish in color and it stands out against the matte finish of Washington's bust. The flaw is pretty small, about the size of two pencil points set side by side.

My question is, should a proof set be virtually flawless? I haven't meticulously checked out other proof sets for comparision. I am particular about details and my eye will always be drawn to it. Is it likely that my next set (if I send it in for an exchange) will have another flaw, maybe one that is even more obvious? I don't want to send in this set and realize later that I should have kept it (since the rest of the coins look good). I'm not too worried about the change in value of the proof set because of this flaw, but I would like it to be as near perfect as proofs are supposed to be.

BTW, this board is sweet and I'm glad I found it. Tons of good info for newbs, but man those acronyms are killing me!

BillJones

New Proof coins should be virtually flawless, but tiny marks and imperfections can be found. If that were not true, every one of these coins would grade PROOF-70 (absolutely perfect), which is clearly not the case.

I can’t really comment on the two tiny marks without seeing them. They might be tiny flecks of red from the frame that holds the coins inside of the case. I’ve had Proof coins from the mint that were worse. In 1973 I got a silver Ike dollar that had grease all over the back it. You can also find tiny scratches on Proof coins fairly regularly, and sometimes you can find tiny “holes” in the mirrored surfaces. Unless the problems are really noticeable, tiny marks can be expected. Last year one of the Proof sets that my mother gave to me as gift had a noticeable black spot on the obverse of the half dollar. Unfortunately it was too late to return it, but at least it wasn’t on one of the state quarters because right now that’s were most of the value of these lies.

Unknown

Thanks Bill.

I am going to send them in for an exchange. I can live with the small imperfections that come with proof sets, but the Pennsylvania quarter stands out among the rest of the coins because of that mark. I'm confident the mark is on the coin and not the case.

Hope the next set isn't worse...

ricko

Good move... I return all proof coins with obvious flaws - i.e. scratches etc. Now, that said, I agree with BillJones.... you cannot expect all proofs to be PR70. But I will not accept obvious defects... and, I have never had a problem returning to the mint. I wish you the same luck with your provider. Cheers, RickO

supercoin

JotaDe, frankly, from your description, that sounds like a pretty nice set, if anything above average for the mint's quality over the last few years. I probably wouldn't expect more, or much happiness from the seller , unless you are paying a premium for a set that has been cherry-picked for you.

BTW, if it's a copper-nickel clad set, those reddish flecks could be copper.