Dear fellow forum members...opinions needed on mint sets.

wam98

First, I'll explain my situation. A couple years ago I started collecting mint sets with the intention of breaking them open to obtain average run of the mill uncirculated coins for some modern sets in albums. Well, after building a collection of mint sets from 1959 up, I thought it was pretty neat having something the mint put together over 40 years ago with their little mint seals and all. Most of the coins are brilliant just like the day they were minted and placed into the sets. The mylar packaging sucks, its cloudy and has turned over the years. One cannot see the coin very well. I wouldn't have any problem taking the scissors to free those shiney Franklin and Kennedy halves. What I'd like to know is, what would you do ? Thanks for your comments.

nwcs

Well, a year ago I would leave it as is. Now I'd break them up and slab the best. But if you're not into slabbing, why not fill a bunch of holders since you'd be able to fill them up?

mrpaseo

I would be very carfull and release them from the clutches of mylar. I would select a few and send them in for grading and would house the rest in some sort of folder that shows both sides of the coin.

That is what I would do.

Ray

longtimecollector

I've always believed that having the coins in the ORIGINAL packaging is best..... Look at GSA dollars !!!!!!!!!! I've tried to pick sets with exceptional coins in exceptional packaging........ Just went thru my proof sets looking for spots, haze, etc......... I'll replace a few, BUT I will replace the complete set, NOT just one coin

cladking

If you don't like them in the plastic then cut them out. You'll lose some money on
some dates (especially '95, and '97 to date), but some will be worth more.

There's no reason that you can't have a collection of pristine mint sets though. Large
percentages of most dates are still available in the same condition they left the mint.
Some dates you will have to settle for at least slightly damaged coins. The '68 set is
no longer available with the Philly penny pristine for instance. In fact with a lot of effort
it's possible to put togather a collection of these with "all" gem coins in them. A couple
will have a choice coin or a slightly corroded coin.

You could trade up or cut them up if you don't like these.

jdimmick

Word on the street is that Mint sets and proof sets 1960> are being heavily discounted by the major market movers?????

I herd this last week, and the latest CDN began to show some evidence of this with the possibility of more to come??

wam98

Anyone else care to comment ?

cladking

<< <i>Word on the street is that Mint sets and proof sets 1960> are being heavily discounted by the major market movers?????

I herd this last week, and the latest CDN began to show some evidence of this with the possibility of more to come?? >>



These prices have been under some pressure for a year now. There have been
periods of increases but generally prices at wholesale are a little lower now than
a year ago.

Ultimately it doesn't really matter much what the wholesale price is on these. When
the price decreases it allows collectors to acquire more and when it increases then
they will cut back. It is a grass roots phenomenon that is using up these set. It is
mostly fires and floods and collectors destroying these. The rate at which they are
destroyed is in some way dependent on price.

It's also interesting to note that the prices of the coins in these sets is up a little. This
means the it becomes increasingly profitable to destroy these to build the date/ denom-
ination sets.

coinguy89

From a collecting standpoint I would cut them out carefully and put them into Dansco albums. They would look, in my opinion so much better. You'd be able to show them off better. However you'll most likely loose resale value with individual sets. But people are usually willing to pay more if the set is complete in the album. If you do cut them out i'd be interested in taking the medals that come in them off your hands, i've got a few now, I find them really neat.

cladking

<< <i>Word on the street is that Mint sets and proof sets 1960> are being heavily discounted by the major market movers?????

I herd this last week, and the latest CDN began to show some evidence of this with the possibility of more to come?? >>



I recorded the SAH coin show from last night and near the beginning they hinted
that they are going to start a "history making project" with the mint sets.

These guys already can make the mint set market bark and jump through hoops because
of their buying. Despite their relatively low sales of these sets their purchases still count
for much of the demand at any given time. There are few enough sets on the market at
any given time that a well heeled buyer could easily absorb the entire supply.

My guess is that they've discovered there's enough demand for the moderns that they
can work on supplying it.

I don't foresee too many price decreases in the near future.

Conder101

To me the answer depends on what you are wanting to collect. If you are wanting to have or collect mint sets then you have to leave them in the mint packaging. If you cut them up you don't have "Mint Sets" you have Unc singles. It isn't like proofs where you can assemble proof singles, put them in a holder and have a "proof set" again. Once you cut up the set it is gone forever and a set of assembled singles is NOT a mint set.