What are the odd's of purchasing a Proof set from...

mach19

The 1950's in a "UNOPENED" envelope.

BECOKA

Not sure but I bet Russ has the answer.

Bear

Possible ,but highly improbable.

JeremyDie1

Try ebay.

Bullish

<< <i>Try ebay. >>



There on there all the time, but are they really unopened?

Russ

Slim to none, and slim is dead.

Russ, NCNE

cladking

The closer you get to the wholesale market the more you'll find.

Now days the dealers who buy these over the counter and from estates are
well aware that there can be cameo coins in them and are likely to open them
to check or sell them at a premium to specific customers. There are still a lot
of dealers who don't even glance at the coins whether opened or closed though.

I've said it a million times but don't write off sets just because they've been
opened. Some collectors don't know what to expect or might even try to ac-
cumulate the best sets so these can be a great source for superb coins. Some
of the later sets that weren't sealed by the mint but are offered sealed are al-
most always picked over though.

mach19

<< <i>Slim to none, and slim is dead.

Russ, NCNE >>




Well, I hear that. Your next post will make 59,000

Barbercoin

None, especially when they sell the envelopes to pack them in. Scammers.

ziggy29

About the same odds as an old box full of wheat cents being unsearched.

PrivateCoinCollector

I have about 6 or 7 unopened proof sets from the 1950's. The envelopes are in pristine condition and have NEVER been opened. Any a few of them are on eBay right now. I bought a collection from a man who still kept all of his stuff in the boxes from the mint. The cardboard was opened but the envelopes were neatly still inside. He would buy 10 or so at a time. I guess he had no desire to open each and every one.

coindeuce

I had a couple '58's and a couple '59's last week. BFD. Even Marty didn't want 'em.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

1850 sets don't come in envelopes... there's your answer

nankraut

I still have a hoard of 1957'S and a few 1958's----envelopes have never been opened. How do I know?? Because I bought them from the mint in 1957 for $2.10 each.

PrivateCoinCollector

And guess what else? I have 10,000 Wheat Penny's I just bought as part of a collection. And you know what? I haven't searched them.
I grabbed three handfuls, counted the % of teens, 20's etc. to accurately describe them when I list them on eBay. BTW, I got the following ratios.

Dates Percent
1910's 6%
1920's 7%
1930's 9%
1940's 26%
1950's 51%


What are the chances someone else already has searched them ? Like Russ said "Slim is dead."

UtahCoin

About 2 years ago we bought 500 unopened sets from 1952-1964 over the counter from a 90+ year old guy going into a nursing home. Opened them all and only found about 6 coins worth the effort. I was going to sell the early 1960's ones unopened on eBay, but then I thought who would believe me....

Russ

UtahCoin brings up a good point. Even when one is lucky enough to find genuinely unopened material, the odds are still crappy.

Russ, NCNE

PrivateCoinCollector

<< <i>About 2 years ago we bought 500 unopened sets from 1952-1964 over the counter from a 90+ year old guy going into a nursing home. Opened them all and only found about 6 coins worth the effort. I was going to sell the early 1960's ones unopened on eBay, but then I thought who would believe me.... >>



Exactly, crapola. That's why I won't search them. Been down that road too darn many times.