Home U.S. Coin Forum

Mint Sets in Cardboard Packaging

I think that the early proof or unc sets issued by the mint were issued in cardboard packaging. Evidently, the cardboard packaging encourages toning over time, and has resulted in some really nice looking toners.

However, in looking at some auctions on the Bay, not all seem to have been issued in this carboard insert/packaging. Can someone shed some light on which specific mint sets in this time period have been issued in with the cardboard inserts?

Is this an example:

1956 Mint Set
imageimage
Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111

Comments

  • mint sets only to my knowledge and i think that stopped in 1964
    image
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    The one you linked is a proof set, not a mint set.

    Russ, NCNE
  • foodudefoodude Posts: 3,577 ✭✭✭
    Cardboard Mint Set packaging ended in 1958.
    Greg Allen Coins, LLC Show Schedule: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/573044/our-show-schedule-updated-10-2-16 Authorized dealer for NGC, PCGS, CAC, and QA. Member of PNG, RTT (Founding Platinum Member), FUN, MSNS, and NCBA (formerly ICTA); Life Member of ANA and CSNS. NCBA Board member. "GA3" on CCE.
  • SkyManSkyMan Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The last year for Mint sets being enclosed in cardboard envelopes was 1958. In 1959 the mint switched over to cellophane flat packs.

    EDITED TO ADD: FooDude, you beat me to it. Look at the time of our posts.
  • OneCentOneCent Posts: 3,561
    Ok...

    1958 Mint Set

    This set contains the packaging that I was referring to in my original post. So the proof sets are the ones packaged in cellophane and the mint (unc) sets were packaged in cardboard?
    imageimage
    Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
    ANA Member R-3147111
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>So the proof sets are the ones packaged in cellophane and the mint (unc) sets were packaged in cardboard? >>



    From 1950 to mid 1955, proof sets were packaged in little boxes. From mid 1955 through 1964, proof sets were packaged in celo flat packs. The mint sets were packaged in the cardboard through 1958, and switched to celo flat packs in 1959.

    Russ, NCNE
  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
    All the info Russ/Foodude Reported is correct.

    Many times these early sets come in capital plastic holders. They are OIK on proof sets, but the premium associated with the toned Mint Sets is for the cardboard holder packages with envelopes. Mint Sets in capital plastic should be avoided like the plague!
    JMSCoins Website Link


    Ike Specialist

    Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986

    image
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Mint Sets in capital plastic should be avoided like the plague! >>



    True. Most of them are put together with picked over junk and/or sliders.

    Russ, NCNE
  • TomBTomB Posts: 21,978 ✭✭✭✭✭
    One thing to keep in mind, and it has been written about in this thread briefly, is that you will find for a certain frequency of 1947-1958 US Mint Sets that one or more coins will not match the others. That is, you may have an otherwise toned Mint Set that has one or more blazing white coins in it. Many times this is evidence that the best coins have been removed and other, non-Mint Set coins have been put in their place.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,148 ✭✭✭✭
    My personal feeling is that I would not purchase one of these sets without looking at the coins in hand and knowing/trusting the dealer you are getting these from.....

    These are really nice sets to have in my opinion, I have a 1958 set.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • OneCentOneCent Posts: 3,561
    Here is another example:

    1951 Mint Set

    Cleary, these items are sought after as evidenced by the current bid on this auction.

    Some members mentioned that it is not infrequent to find sliders in some of the holes as the choice coins have been cherrypicked. I would think, then, that finding a monster toned set intact on E-bay would be almost non-existant. The mint sets that would be found or E-bay would be non-premium or even, perhaps, picked over. See, I'm a quick learner...image

    Maybe flea markets......


    Note: I'm in no way suggesting that any of the auction links that I posted are anything other than what the seller says they are.
    imageimage
    Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
    ANA Member R-3147111
  • darktonedarktone Posts: 8,437 ✭✭✭
    I have got some pretty darn good mint sets on ebay- one partial set I bought for a hundred dollars contained two of the finest 54-S washingtons I have ever seen- they were both colorfully toned and graded 66 and 67. I have bought some real duds though so you alway's take your chances. image


  • << <i> 1951 Mint Set Clearly, these items are sought after as evidenced by the current bid on this auction. >>



    No, not true. This auction is a BIN at $949.95 OR you can start bidding at $849.95.
    No one has bid on this set yet.

    I've bought several Mint Sets this year, from different buyers. You really need to see very clear,
    up-close photos of these sets, or forget it (JWCameo does a pretty good job with his photography, as do a few others).

    My personal favorite is the 1958 set, because you have a shot at two of the 58-D Franklins, which are among
    the most spectacular toned Franklins available. Which is not to say that you'll hit the jackpot anyway, because
    most of these sets have been cherry-picked over the years, and the coins busted out to slab-land. But if you're patient, and
    do your homework, you should come away with some decent rainbow-toners, if that's what you're after.

    Also, final word: you get what you pay for. Good luck.
  • Someday I would like to own an ORIGINAL double mint set in the cardboard. The problem is it is almost impossible to find a set where the coins have not been removed. (look at the paper covering the back of the holes. On an ORIGINAL se the paper will be flat. If the coins have been removed the paper will be indented. The same coins may have been put back in but now it is no longer original.) They are so hard to find because every time a set comes on the market everyone wants to pop the coins out to look at both sides to see if they can slab it for big money.
  • As was previously mentioned the early mint sets came in the cardboard. The link in the first post is a proof set as Russ points out. The proof sets included coins that were sealed inside cellophane. The early mint set coins came in cheap cardboard placed between a folded, colored piece of paper. I have a photo of an original below.

    You could easily see both sides of a coin simply by looking at the back side of the cardboard. In some cases a coin is loosely fitted so can fall out. You may not be able to tell if a coin was switched. They certainly should all look similar as a blast white one should not exist in that cheap cardboard.

    image
  • In every case I have seen the paper lifts so you can see one side of the set, but it is attached to the cardboard on the other side and doesn't lift for viewing.
  • darktonedarktone Posts: 8,437 ✭✭✭


    << <i>In every case I have seen the paper lifts so you can see one side of the set, but it is attached to the cardboard on the other side and doesn't lift for viewing. >>



    Many times the cover paper was not glued to the cardboard on one side so you could view both sides. I have had many 57 sets like this but have had others from different years as well.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>My personal feeling is that I would not purchase one of these sets without looking at the coins in hand and knowing/trusting the dealer you are getting these from..... >>



    If you're viewing the set in-hand, why would it matter if you knew/trusted the dealer?

    Russ, NCNE
  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,148 ✭✭✭✭
    Because of all the switching that does go on with these sets that is my preference.....

    Would I purchase a nice 56 set in a dealer I did not know but was convinced it was original, yes I most likely would.....

    Sometimes just looking at a dealers inventory and that person I just will not purchase anything from them.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves


  • << <i>

    << <i>In every case I have seen the paper lifts so you can see one side of the set, but it is attached to the cardboard on the other side and doesn't lift for viewing. >>



    Many times the cover paper was not glued to the cardboard on one side so you could view both sides. I have had many 57 sets like this but have had others from different years as well. >>



    Methinks that all years were glued on one side. Over the years the glue would often deteriorate and lose it's adhesive qualities. Some years, like 1956 and 1957, they seem to have used less, or different glue and are more often found with liftable paper on both sides. The 1958 sets seem to have the most durable glue.

    Truly original 1947-!958 mint sets are hugely undervalued!
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,141 ✭✭✭✭
    Bushmaster is correct. If you look at the cardboard closely, you can see where the paper was glued at one point. For some reason the 56/57's are always unglued.

    I've never seen a decent set on any other year in the 50's that the paper is unglued.

    Some 47,48,49 sets have some unglued paper, but that is mostly an anomaly.
    JMSCoins Website Link


    Ike Specialist

    Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986

    image
  • darktonedarktone Posts: 8,437 ✭✭✭
    I have had several sets with no glue or any signs of glue being on the cover paper- had a lot 10 sealed 57 sets that had no glue on either side....
  • The later date paper mint sets (1956 - 1958 ) were not ALL glued .
    The coins are what determine if a set is origional or not , so a set in a capitol holder might well be origional
    if all the coins were from a single origional paper mint set .
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>As was previously mentioned the early mint sets came in the cardboard. The link in the first post is a proof set as Russ points out. The proof sets included coins that were sealed inside cellophane. The early mint set coins came in cheap cardboard placed between a folded, colored piece of paper. I have a photo of an original below.

    You could easily see both sides of a coin simply by looking at the back side of the cardboard. In some cases a coin is loosely fitted so can fall out. You may not be able to tell if a coin was switched. They certainly should all look similar as a blast white one should not exist in that cheap cardboard.

    image >>



    Hey Carl, that set sure looks familiar. image

    image
    image
    image
    image


  • << <i>I have had several sets with no glue or any signs of glue being on the cover paper- had a lot 10 sealed 57 sets that had no glue on either side.... >>



    You musta been in Paradise Darktone! 10 unopened sets!

    I recall a 1957 set I bought from Jakes Marketplace in the 80's. That is the only set I ever found in which all 4 Frankies subsequently got 66ed at PCGS. This was before the FBL desig. was in use. Sweet, sweet set that was! Well less than $100 too!
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • BTW- the set Carl posted... what is with the radically different tone on the two halves?
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • Umm, where is a good place to find these sets?

    Shows, flea markets, auction houses...?

    Seems to me that anyone who has one of these sets (and knows the coin business) would just take out the best coins, send them in for grading and make money. Whats left goes to people like me, unless I could find one at a flea market and offer greysheet bid.

    Also, I would imagine that finding an original set as you guys talk about would be quite rare...probably not alot around any longer.
    imageimage
    Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
    ANA Member R-3147111
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Umm, where is a good place to find these sets?

    Shows, flea markets, auction houses...?

    Seems to me that anyone who has one of these sets (and knows the coin business) would just take out the best coins, send them in for grading and make money. Whats left goes to people like me, unless I could find one at a flea market and offer greysheet bid.

    Also, I would imagine that finding an original set as you guys talk about would be quite rare...probably not alot around any longer. >>



    Exactly.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file