What do you think I should do with this 1955 Flat Pack Proof Set?

seanq

I bought this set almost ten years ago and forgot about it until recently. Big images below, any haze you see is on the plastic, the coins are pristine. The half and dime have light cameo contrast, but probably not enough to go CAM at PCGS (they'd both be Ultra Cam at PCI, though ):





Here's the rub - the nickel (the only reason I bought the set) is a nice doubled die reverse, not the Tripled Die in the CPG but a nice DDR with moderate Class II & V spread on AMERICA, PLURIBUS UNUM, and LLO.

So now what would you suggest as my best strategy to maximize the value of this set?

a) keep it intact as a quality, original flat pack, and oh-by-the-way there's a DDR Jeff in it too;

b) cut out the nickel, replace it with another Proof '55 Jeff, leaving me with a proof single DDR Jeff and an 80% original set;

c) break the whole thing up, send the nickel to ANACS, then cross my fingers and send the other four to PCGS;

d) something else I haven't considered.

Please don't mistake this as an offer or attempt to sell this set on this forum. Please don't PM me with any offers, as they will not be considered. If I decide to move the set, in part or intact, I will post the details in the B-S-T Forum as appropriate.

Thanks,


Sean Reynolds

airplanenut

<< <i>d) something else I haven't considered. >>

I can take it off your hands so you don't have the pressured decision

solid

Unless you want to sell it right away, I don't see how you can go wrong leaving the set intact!

Ken

Myqqy

It seems like the DDR on the jeff has some importance for you- do you want it slabbed? do you like complete sets? is it just a question of future resale potential? So many questions!!

Nice set too!

airplanenut

Oh, to seriously answer the question... I'd say leave it be. Since so many of these sets have been broken, you may have one of the only remaining sets with the DDR... plus, what's the hurry to hurt the set? It's not harming the coins when left as is.

Jeremy

Robgetty

I agree with leaving it alone. You can always cut the coins out later,
but you can never put them back in.

EvilMCT

Leave the set intact. Then, hopefully I see it on the BST boards.

Ken

Cameonut

Since you asked the question about how to maximize your value of the set, here is what I would do. Assuming the nickel is in good shape and will grade a 66+, I would cut out the nickel and send to NGC for grading and get the variety designated. This coin will bring reasonable money in the marketplace. I would then buy a replacement nickel and put the set in a Capital Plasitcs holder and sell that separately. IMO this would maximize the value to you.

Of course, your second alternative is to sell the set intact with a description as you have listed above. There are some collectors that will be eager to buy this set (including me). But I don't think you will maximize your value this way. Collectors will typically discount their bids on raw sets if they can't get a good look at it.

Cameonut

seanq

Thanks for the replies so far. I guess what I want to do is have my cake and eat it too - I'd love to hang on to just the DDR Jeff, but I don't want to destroy the value of the original set in the process. On the one hand I kinda like the idea of switching the whole set into a Capital holder and swapping out the nickel, but on the other hand that seems less appealing to me than having it in the flatpack.

Anyway, I found an auction last night that I think makes my decision easier. Someone listed a modern Mint Set in original packaging with a clipped quarter. If that seller had cut the quarter out of the set and replaced it with another normal one to "maximize the value", I think I would, literally, cry. That's the first clipped quarter in a Mint Set I've seen in eight years of looking (I have mint sets with a clipped cent, nickel, and dime, and was an underbidder on one with a clipped half last month). There's gotta be a guy somewhere with a bunch of variety coins in original Mint packaging, reading my post and banging on his keyboard screaming "Put down the scissors, you fool!". Whoever he is, I'd sure hate to disappoint him . That is, unless one of you day-wakers feels like talking me out of it...


Sean Reynolds

EvilMCT

<< <i>There's gotta be a guy somewhere with a bunch of variety coins in original Mint packaging, reading my post and banging on his keyboard screaming "Put down the scissors, you fool!". >>



Exactly. In fact, I've started to get a few stares from co-workers.

Ken

earlwbollinger

PUT DOWN THE SISSORS YOU FOOL!!!

JRocco

Sean, I have a sealed mint set with a clipped quarter somewhere. The problem is where. Let me try to find where it is and look at it again. I believe it is a minor clip - less than 5% - but a clip none the less. I have no idea about the year either. Let me see if I have notes anywhere here at home. I'll let you know and if I can get access to it today I will try to get a pic up.