Mint set quality

cladking

I'm coming to believe that most world mint set coins are stuck and handled
more carefully than the coins made for circulation. Some are quite opbviously
better like the Swiss and the more recent date British sets but when most of
the mint set coins are compared side by side with those made for circulation
there seems to usually be a significant difference.

World mint set attrition is even higher than US and many of these coins end
up in poundage and dealer junk boxes. Packaging is often unstable so if they
aren't removed they'll be destroyed by corrosion. Even proof sets can be bad
but mint sets are usually bad packaging.

I should have been far more aggressive in acquiring these sets. This especially
applies to the earlier sets when they started up in the '60's and '70's.

Any opinions?

JCMhouston

I agree, it certainly seems like many World mint sets are more like specimen sets rather than just regular circulating coinage.

koincollect

I agree with you fully. That was the time when almost every packing was PVC. Most of the sets I have seen are ruined by now. The collectors can't be blamed since I guess the effects of PVC was not known that time. I am an advocate of keeping the sets in the original packing, but bless the person who broke out some these that time. I have seen these sets in capitol holders and look beautiful. :-)

7Jaguars

Our favorite chant, inspired by the rude rap tune: "OGP, you know me". Love the OGP if not of PVC type.

wybrit

I have certainly found that to be true of British sets. Most of the proof sets in the 70's and early 80's have developed an unattractive haze. The "plastic" mint set of 1953 is also an ugly mug. The sets from 1982 onward are somewhat better, but yes, many are taken out of their packages and put into poor quality 2x2 packaging and thrown into the dust bowl bargain bins.