"cracking" proof sets

Zulan

I have been looking through a large set of coins lately (most circulated), and I have found only a couple of coins that come even close to the beauties I see being tossed around on this board. I started wondering, are some of these coins actually coming out of proof sets and mint sets? Some of these (more current) coins I have seen on here are just unbelievable in how much luster they have. I have opened up uncirc coin rolls from the bank and never seen anything like them.

Am I close to understanding here, or am I just unlucky in what I have found in the past?
Zulan

MICHAELDIXON

It takes time and patience to find NICE material to send in. I've looked at thousands of proof sets in the last year and found one in last weekend's auction that I thought was nice enough to send some coins in for grading. You're not unlucky, you're probably not viewing enough coins.

bearcave

<< <i>It takes time and patience to find NICE material to send in. I've looked at thousands of proof sets in the last year and found one in last weekend's auction that I thought was nice enough to send some coins in for grading. You're not unlucky, you're probably not viewing enough coins. >>



I agree, I have searched a ton (seems like) and have only sent in a few that I think will make the grade. I am relearning on what they want to see as well. It takes a lot of searching and learning what to look for.

Cameonut

I agree as well, I have also looked at thousands of proof sets in the past couple of years. For the most part, I have looked at sets from 1950-71. Very few have coins in them that are worthy of slabbing. IMO, most of these sets have been looked at several times for nice cameo material, but are sometimes overlooked for rare varieties. So it is still possible to cherrypick a variety or two, but becoming very difficult to find nice cameos.

Cameonut

cladking

In the mint state coins it depends on the specific denomination, year, and mint but for
the main part gems are much easier to find in mint sets than anywhere else. In many cases
such as clad dimes and quarters it is very difficult to find any original rolls to check because
people simply didn't bother to save these coins. When rolls are found they tend to be very
poorly struck if they are pre-1985 and very badly marked if they are later. Many of the en-
tire era are badly marked and badly struck. Mint set coins are typically well struck so
finding gems is like shooting fish in a barrel. The sets keep getting harder to find but most
of the coins in them run about 2% gems.

tsacch

Do you just look at them at shops, or do you buy them and resell them. If i looked at hundreds of sets at my shop, they would smack me in the head..........and I cant afford to buy them and cherry pick one coin and sell the rest, especially if you get "one good one" out of hundreds to resell.

tom

ksteelheader

I look at probably a thousand sets every other week and only find a few to buy....

cladking

Most of the sets I see are being accumulated by someone to either be dismantled
and sold in rolls or to be retailed by a major dealer. Most of these sets are original
and uncherry picked before I see them. Clad mint sets are still not heavily picked over
except for some early dates and for the larger coins (especially Ikes). These sets tend
to be ones that were bought over the counter from the original owner and are quickly
sold to a wholesaler or other major buyer. It helps to be able to look at these sets
very quickly. Oft times I've helped cut them up as payment for cherry picking them.

Proof sets too, are often original but the earlier years are getting increasingly difficult
to find fresh.

Until you get good at spotting gems, it's easier if you pull the sets out of the packaging
so you can look at all of one coin at a time. When you see a bunch together the gems
will jump out at you.