Resealed proof and mint sets

mcarney1173

I know that you can open the envelopes over hot steam and reseal them with a mild adhesive. Is this type of scam encountered frequently on eBay? Is it safe to buy a sealed set on eBay?

19Lyds

Yes

and

No



You really need to know what to look for and even then there are some scammers out there.

There are even sellers that sell "reprinted" proof set envelopes for those that like to rip-look-reseal-scam!

Again, you have to know what you are looking at. Letter styles, type placement, envelope color, envelope condition. There are still thousands of sealed original sets sitting in 100 or 50 pack original mint boxes out there but there are just as many "resealed" sets.

Deal with reputable sellers if you can find one and/or reputable dealers. There are plenty on these forums who offer this stuff occsionally on the BST but with eBay you're looking at 50/50 odds.

kranky

Even worse, people sell reproductions of the envelopes and they can be used to create "sealed" sets.

291fifth

The 1955-64 mint envelopes were often very lightly sealed and could be opened easily without damaging the envelope. In addition, replacement envelopes were made that were identical to the original mint envelopes. (The original mint envelopes were a common stock item and the printing was done by letterpress with easily available type faces.) These replacement envelopes were sold to dealers, many of them Sunday bourse dealers, who wanted to replace their worn out mint envelopes. At the time this was done, the 1980's, no one objected to it since it wasn't done with scamming in mind. The dealers just wanted to make their proof set stock look more presentable.

The "sealed envelope" scams developed later when large premiums for things like deep cam coins developed.

YogiBerraFan

There is a guy on the bay that buys large quantities of sealed sets. He also sells sealed sets. If he is reselling what he is buying he looses money every time. He could be resealing after checking the contents. I am not willing to buy from him to find out but it makes you wonder what is really going on there

joshieboi

I am about to purchase a 1936-37 mint sent sealed in unopened box. I was wondering if this would be a good idea, now that I am aware that they possibly could be fraudulent.


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Yes. I collect coins.

WoodenJefferson

<< <i>I am about to purchase a 1936-37 mint sent sealed in unopened box. I was wondering if this would be a good idea, now that I am aware that they possibly could be fraudulent.


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Yes. I collect coins. >>



Yes, bogus boxes with brown sealing tape and inked date stamps have in the past been presented as original "unopened" Mint sealed boxes. There again, you need to deal with someone who has a track record for honesty & integrity. You jump in there willy nilly, your going to get stung.

chumley

I just bought 1952,1953,1954 and 1955 proof sets and a 1952 mint set but I think the seller may be a board member here...I trust him