Unopened proof sets, scam?

mumu

Are the unopened proof sets on ebay or anywhere else for that matter, ssspected to be previously searched for cameos et cetera? Are they worth buying at any multiple of spot silver?(silver years obviously)

RyGuy

I've always wondered this as well and am always tempted to take the chance, but the fellas here always re-assure me its not worth it 99% of the time. Odds are they've been picked over and resealed.

Ryan

Boothill40

Hit and miss, I bought some awhile back and all were AH but on the other hand bought others and got nothing, roll the dice and see what happens is about all you can do on those------jmho-------Tom

StubbyMcNumbthumbs

I bought a set a few years ago, just because it was my birth year. I think I paid just a small bit over what they normally go for, which isn't much. I recently thought "What the heck, go ahead and open 'em up", since I was never going to resell it anyway.

Inside... a decent proof set, but nothing special.

I'm still happy with them, but I wouldn't buy a bunch of them just looking for a hidden treasure.

Just my opinion.

WaterSport

Unopened Proof seats, unsearched Rolls, etc., are just come ons. Be very careful. But one thing that can increases your odds if you like to gamble is to look at the seller and what they are selling. If they are selling garage sales type junk and happen to throw a proof set up, then just maybe you got a shot. But if the person deals with just coins, I would take there banter with a grain of salt.

WS

YaHa

Think about it. Your chances of getting a unopened set is 1 out of 100 that's a 99% chance it's been looked through.

Hot iron, steamer, will get any envelope open without anyone ever knowing.

It's a chase and hunt thingy, money is king. But honestly only goes so far.

Good luck if you take the chance. I wouldn't.. That's just me.

RichieURich

<< <i>Think about it. Your chances of getting a unopened set is 1 out of 100 that's a 99% chance it's been looked through.

Hot iron, steamer, will get any envelope open without anyone ever knowing.

It's a chase and hunt thingy, money is king. But honestly only goes so far.

Good luck if you take the chance. I wouldn't.. That's just me. >>



Plus, the person opening the proof set doesn't even have to worry about opening the envelope carefully. Envelopes nearly identical to the Mint's proof set envelopes can be bought on eBay!

MadMarty

I have a bunch on E-Bay right now. One of our local dealers bought sealed 50 boxes of 60-64 proof sets. I bought the boxes from him. Opened 10 out of each box and they were regular proof sets. What to do with the other 40, put them on E-bay. No hype, just sealed proof sets. I was really tempted to open all the 61s and look for DDRs, but the hit per set I would take was too much.

But yes, I have bought "sealed" sets, opened them up to find out that the paper was missing, or there was different cardboard in them. Around here, most B&M stores don't care if they are open or not, they are the same price.

keets

too many of us have bought Proof Sets advertised as "unopened" and scored for it to be OK for those who don't play the game to say that it's all just a scam. i currently have stuff listed in my sig-line which is 100% legitimate, never opened and never searched. certainly there are scammers who check and reseal, but there are probably just as many who are legitimate. the work ahead of you is to figure out which is which, we won't do that for you.

the real fly in the ointment isn't that sets have been searched and it's a 99% chance you'll never find anything. it is that if every set that was ever produced was still available sealed there'd be about the same chance of finding anything. most collectors/dealers simply don't realize how truly scarce the 1950-1970 Cameo and Deep Cameo material is.

garsmith

It's hit or miss, I have gotten both unopened, unsearched and opened resealed.

YaHa

<< <i>too many of us have bought Proof Sets advertised as "unopened" and scored for it to be OK for those who don't play the game to say that it's all just a scam. i currently have stuff listed in my sig-line which is 100% legitimate, never opened and never searched. certainly there are scammers who check and reseal, but there are probably just as many who are legitimate. the work ahead of you is to figure out which is which, we won't do that for you.

the real fly in the ointment isn't that sets have been searched and it's a 99% chance you'll never find anything. it is that if every set that was ever produced was still available sealed there'd be about the same chance of finding anything. most collectors/dealers simply don't realize how truly scarce the 1950-1970 Cameo and Deep Cameo material is. >>




Great point Keets. I am sitting here wondering what type of return policy did the mint have back when the sets were sold in the 50s/60s? I bettca there were some peekers back then also that went for the prize in the box. If there wasn't send them back and try again.

But.. Again Keets is 100% right the cameo strike was Golden Ticket to get and there wasn't much of them available.

We as collectors always hope we are the few to get lucky. First releases are the key to any strikes.

I even have seen statehood quarters with stronger cameos than others in todays market.

MadMarty

<< <i>First releases are the key to any strikes. >>



Not with 50's and 60's strikes, new die pairs are the keys! Just look how many one sided deep cameos there are in the 50's and 60's. You had to have both dies to get the killer proof coin! 1st strike didn't mean squat, 1st strike is a marketing term coined by the TPGs.

Typically the reverse dies were used from year to year and were switched when they were worn out.

BobSav

I agree with watersport, If it's ebay and they are selling coins your probably wasting your time.

If the seller history is selling misc. items and one or two coin items then you probably are better off.

Bob

Russ

The vast majority of sets being sold as mint sealed have been picked over, some multiple times over the years. But, there still is some legitimate product out there. I once bought a group of 10 1964 sets that yielded all Accented Hairs, six of which were cameos. It's a crap shoot. Just don't pay stupid money for these and you can't really get hurt, and it can be fun.

Russ, NCNE

grabba

<< <i>The vast majority of sets being sold as mint sealed have been picked over, some multiple times over the years. But, there still is some legitimate product out there. I once bought a group of 10 1964 sets that yielded all Accented Hairs, six of which were cameos. It's a crap shoot. Just don't pay stupid money for these and you can't really get hurt, and it can be fun.

Russ, NCNE >>



Good advice! I have gotten lucky a few times too. 6 of 10 sets were accented hairs although not cameo.

Hey Russ...... you think the MadOne is actually selling genuine unopened sets?

Me either.

badger

The recent prices on EBay for unopened proof sets from the 1940's and 1950's almost require finding a cameo to break even. For the lae 1950's and 1960's you almost need a DCam to break even depending on the premium. An unopened set at the normal price is worth a chance. Be careful of the premium paid.

I agree with Keets that the most likely unopened sets come from the box of 50 counts.
Dave

CarlWohlforth

You can buy fresh envelopes that look like originals. So people re-package sets and call them unopened.

I once bought an "unopened" set from a seller who is very experienced with unopened and opened sets. Once opened I found the coins wrapped in saran wrap so the set was obviously previously opened. The seller offered my money back, for some strange reason I kept the set anyway which turned out to be a mistake as I can't sell it for a profit.