Thoughts on breaking up a mint set.

Twowood

Recently found that I've got duplicate '66 Special Mint Sets with some coins that appear,to my untrained eye,to be of MS quality.
I'm considering sacrificing a set to have the best coins graded by PCGS to enhance my collection.
I'm sure some of you more experienced guys have done this before. Any thoughts on this idea?

andy007

All of the coins should be MS, if not Gem quality. I would hold off from submitting any unless you have some that are for sure cameos

itsnotjustme

You need a good eye too see if these are worth grading. I've had the chance to buy many unsearched SMS sets, and typically about 1 coin in 20 or so is worth submitting. Unless you score very good or cameo grades, you can buy most of these already slabbed at "lower" grades for less than the grading fees. MS66RD 1c, MS66 5c, MS6710c, MS66 25c, and MS66 50c should all be locatable for below $15.

ursabear

Welcome to the boards, Twowood!

This is a tough question. I think that looking over the coins with someone who understands the potential value of the majority of the coins in the set(s). I've found that others can help me make a better decision... Perhaps you could post a few close-up scans or pictures on the board and ask for opinions?

merz2

I have to go along with the majority.Unless you are good at the distinction between grades it would be cheaper to buy them already slabbed.

Gilbert

Well, here is my lone voice of descent. To me, you already own the coins; why by them slabbed. I suppose it depends on why you want them slabbed. For me, in most instances, its for the added comfort of the most technologically advanced state of preservation, for the most part. With that in mind, if you like the coins you have and want to preserve them by the best means possible, then encapsulate what you have. Of course, if you are looking for huge numbers, and some type of economical return, then maybe purchase of slabbed coins IS for you. I , for one, don't believe the rate of return on a slab is the only consideration for basing encapsulation on.

DHeath

TwoWood,

I haven't had the pleasure. Welcome, and cool name (pretty uncommon club). I agree with all of the advice given, and have a few thoughts to add. The coins have already enhanced your collection, raw or slabbed. If you're working on a slabbed set, look for coins you believe are fully perfect in every way in the SMS coins that aren't cameo. If you find cameo coins, this is how PCGS views them IMO, it has some cam - PCGS says no it doesn't, it is full cameo on one side and the other is a maybe - not a chance, both sides are cam and it might dcam - Cam designation, glow in the dark extreme cam of all devices and lettering - dcam. Also note, the cameo effect isn't the only factor - they also look hard at the quality of the mirrors (no satin, fully reflective). If you use that guide as your basis for submission, you'll do very well and won't be disappointed with the designations given. Last piece of free advice (worth what you pay) is to keep the nice coins whether you submit them or not. They don't have to be in PCGS holders to be attractive. I am always amazed at the lack of appreciation of nice coins just because they aren't registry quality. Good luck!

doereme

What he ^ said......Pat

cladking

Welcome. Great first post. If you've only looked at the two SMS's then it's
a little unlikely that any are very special. As Itsnotjustme says about one
of these in twenty is worth slabbing. So you have maybe a 50:50 chance of
one of these being a nice one. If you picked them out special or have com-
pared them to other sets then that would be different. The '66 SMS is in a
standard Whitman snap-lock case with a blue insert. You can open this case
to get a good look at the coins or to mix and match with another set. I hope
you have lots of superb gems there, but it is unlikely. Good luck.