1954 Proof Set Question

Delorean

I've been looking at 1954 proof sets and have a question about the packaging of the coins. Some sets appear to have the coins in plastic sleeves with a staple in it and some appear to be heat sealed. Anyone know what is correct?

Thank,
Chuck

Delorean

Anyone?

commoncents05

The original packaging is very brittle and has probably turned yellow by now. I see a lot of "fake" plastic sleeves that are made of new plastic and heat sealed on the bottom.

-Paul

19Lyds

Original packaging had the coins joined with a staple.

Staples are very bad. Staples RUST. Staples SCRATCH.

The cello used to package the proofs also had a tendency to get very brittle over the years, developing cracks which if jostled, would allow the coin to slip free of the cello. Many collectors substituted the cello with nonPCV plastic bags. Since staples are a bad thing around coins, I could understand heat sealing the bags instead of re-stapling them together.

BTW, I don't think heat sealing technology existed in 1954 anyway.

jgrinz

55 wa sthe first that had both box and flat packs so you would assume that someone created a cello wrap to
eliminate the staple issue

SUMORADA

Wasnt it 1954 that had the coins BOTH ways - in the box with staples and a Flat pack cello wrapped

That was 1955 I believe.....

jmski52

Wasnt it 1954 that had the coins BOTH ways - in the box with staples and a Flat pack cello wrapped I kinda remember one year had both styles of packaging - it would not be the first time I have been mistaken.

1955 had both flat packs and stapled envelopes in a box.

The 1954 cello envelopes were stapled together and the plastic did turn yellow and did have a tendency to become brittle.

If the coins are stapled in soft polyethylene envelopes, they aren't original but that doesn't say anything about the coins. They might be better-preserved simply because of better storage.

numisma

In the 1954 the Mint used two types of plastic sleeves: the brittle celophane pouches and, later in the year, softer plastic sleeves. Both options could be considered original and you can usually tell by the aged appearance of the plastic. However, both options ONLY came with staples. None of the 1954 proof sets should be heat sealed. If they are, then you are not looking at original 1954 packaging.

However, the most important thing is the quality of the coins. Sometimes we put too much emphasis on the packaging for these early sets.

keets

Dennis is correct on all counts.

the packaging pouches changed sometimes during 1954. understanding the nature of the friction, perhaps the best advice that can be given on these early sets(cello or plastic pouches; box or flat pack) to protect the coins is to remove them from the "original" packaging, place them in rigid, inert holders and save the packaging.

jmski52

In the 1954 the Mint used two types of plastic sleeves: the brittle celophane pouches and, later in the year, softer plastic sleeves. Both options could be considered original and you can usually tell by the aged appearance of the plastic.

I didn't know that, thanks. I know that in the early '60s, I could get the long envelopes for coins storage, but I'm not sure what they were made from. I think that they were acetate.

gyocomgd

<< <i>In the 1954 the Mint used two types of plastic sleeves: the brittle celophane pouches and, later in the year, softer plastic sleeves. Both options could be considered original and you can usually tell by the aged appearance of the plastic. >>



That's good news. I have a '54 proof set with the plastic sleeves, and feared they had been repackaged. The coins are terrific, so I've remained mute on the subject.

keets

the poly-bags that the Mint switched to in mid-1954 were far better than the cello bags but they didn't eliminate the problem of rub/friction. when they switched to the flat packs it improved things even more but the best approach didn't come til 1966 and thereafter. it almost totally eliminated the chance of friction and has protected coins very well in the intervening years.

denga

Delorean November 05, 2008 8

I've been looking at 1954 proof sets and have a question about the packaging of the coins. Some sets appear to have the coins in plastic sleeves with a staple in it and some appear to be heat sealed. Anyone know what is correct?

Thank,
Chuck

************

My 1954 proof set arrived, as others state in this thread, stapled. In the course of time
the staples rusted and ate through the cellophane, letting the air reach the coins and
turning them various shades. I wound up putting the coins in a holder but did keep the
original little square box.

Denga

segoja

The early sets are the old cello, and few in numbers. The coins are generally nicer becasue the later soft vinyl bags put an ugly purple on the coins that will not come off.

If the cello isn't broken those are the best sets.

OnlyGoldIsMoney

Chuck, I picked up an original 1954 proof set two years ago and your post prompted me to take another look. The coins are in individual cellophane envelopes (now yellowed) held together with a staple. They came wrapped with tissue paper within a square box. The cellophane holding each coin is intact but the staple has rusted. The half shows toning on the bottom of the reverse as a result of the staple. The other four coins are untoned.

PawPaul

that soft plastic no doubt has p.v.c..........

keets

that soft plastic no doubt has p.v.c..........

no, those poly(propelene) bags don't contain any PVC at all. PolyVinyl Chloride is an entirely different chemical formulation. without getting into the stuff i don't really know too much about, the problem with PVC is the added chlorine molecule.