US Mint Set Values-Shipping Box/Presentation Box

BobM

The state of collecting in many ways is and always has been quite obsessive and compulsive. Perfection is sought in every way. It makes sense that issues of US Mint coin sets will fetch more upon resale if they are sold in the presentation boxes in which they were originally sold by the US Mint. But, I am told that collectors are interested no only in the presentation boxes but also in the shipping boxes in which the coins came from the mint. Some questions regarding this:

1. Does the availability of the shipping box really increase the value of a coin set?
2. Are there buyers who will pay more for a coin set if the shipping box was never opened? If so, how would they or the seller know the true condition of the coins?
3. If the coins were sent into a grading service to be slabbed, how would the owner of the coins be able to prove that the coins slabbed were the same coins that came from the original set?

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>The state of collecting in many ways is and always has been quite obsessive and compulsive. Perfection is sought in every way. It makes sense that issues of US Mint coin sets will fetch more upon resale if they are sold in the presentation boxes in which they were originally sold by the US Mint. But, I am told that collectors are interested no only in the presentation boxes but also in the shipping boxes in which the coins came from the mint. Some questions regarding this:

1. Does the availability of the shipping box really increase the value of a coin set?
2. Are there buyers who will pay more for a coin set if the shipping box was never opened? If so, how would they or the seller know the true condition of the coins?
3. If the coins were sent into a grading service to be slabbed, how would the owner of the coins be able to prove that the coins slabbed were the same coins that came from the original set? >>



Apparently the original Mint shipping boxes have a perceived value in relation to PCGS's First Strike designation. Or some scammers are plotting their evil schemes against some unsuspecting suckers. I suppose some sharpie has a way to open and reseal the box or counterfeit the shipping label.

For number 2. there is no way to know the condition of the contents without opening the box so ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.

3. You can't unless the grading company lets you watch the entire process. Also if a set is offered for sale there is no way to know if it was submitted and didn't "grade right" and the coins later cracked out and reassembled as an original mint set.

ricko

1-yes - witness the sale of original boxes on ebay sans coins.
2-yes
3-no guarantee except the integrity of the TPG.
Cheers, RickO

BobM

Thank you Bajjerfam and ricko. Pretty soon, the name of the postal worker who delivered the coins will have value!