Beware of unopened mint sets...strange things happen!

devious

Hi gang!

I just wanted to post my experience. I recently acquired what was believed to be two unopened 1956 mint sets. Well, funny, they came from the same guy and I'm pretty sure he thought they were unopened as well because all of the coins purchased from him were excellent. But I allegedly bought two 1956 unopened mint sets from the fellow here in Minnesota. I opened one in front of my barber and immediately, we noticed there were 1957 and 1956 coinage mixed in. The envelope looked like it was not tampered with. It did have pencil writing on the envelope though that said "missing coins". Pretty silly, but all the coins look awesome anyway.

The other 1956 mint set came in the alleged original mint post office envelope which was already open, and is postmarked Feb 8 1956. I opened up the envelope and out came a 1955 mint set. I'm not complaining, either way, I am more than pleased with both of these mint sets. The envelope contained a refund receipt that sort of cracks me up. My barber and myself giggled as it says refund in postage stamps? I don't get it. Maybe somebody can shed some light on this.



Anyway, just thought I would share. Does anybody know of mint sets being in sealed mint set style envelopes containing mixed up coinage from multiple years? The coins are all solid and look great, but I'm still confused. Just thought I'd inquire and post my experience of opening my allegedly sealed 1956 mint sets.

Aaron

P.S. I'm sure you all want to see the coins, too. I have quite possibly the worst lighting situation where I live now. And I haven't purchased any light fixtures to do coin photos. But I'll leave everybody in suspense...for now!

19Lyds

Postage Stamps used to as good as cash and in leiu of sending actual cash, many organizations sent postage stamps. At the time, the US Post Office was still a government entity who went private many years ago.

As for the mixed up coins? I have no idea but it sounds for sure that the mint sets were not original unopened sets unless of course the seller was referring to himself.

Did you get any stamps?

TomB

If I recall correctly, US Mint Sets from the era were shipped out the following year. This means that the 1955 set should have an early 1956 postmark.

devious

<< <i>Postage Stamps used to as good as cash and in leiu of sending actual cash, many organizations sent postage stamps. At the time, the US Post Office was still a government entity who went private many years ago.

As for the mixed up coins? I have no idea but it sounds for sure that the mint sets were not original unopened sets unless of course the seller was referring to himself.

Did you get any stamps? >>



I did not get any stamps. But the 1955 set did appear to be completely original and not tampered with (before I opened it). I wonder if the stamps would have been in the same envelope? The guy who sold them likely didn't have any idea because it is my understanding a 1955 mint set sells for more than a 1956 mint set and had he known that probably would had marketed it as such?

Although the other set was not original, it had the following in it:

first holder:

2x 1956 25c
1x 1956 50c
2x 1956 10c (the prettiest toning i've seen on rosies)
1x 1956-d 5c
1x 1956 5c
1x 1957 1c

second holder

2x 1956-d 1c
2x 1956-d 5c
1x 1955 10c
1x 1954 10c
1x 1954 25c
1x 1956-d 25c
1x 1954 50c
1x 1957-d 50c

All of the coins have the same mint set toning. And all of the coins appear to be very high grade, or not swapped. But no full step nickels. None in any of the mint sets I have acquired over the past few months.

I wasn't going to open either one of these unopened sets, but I thought what the hell, it's like getting to the treasure chest and leaving it shut! I'm amazed at some of the beautiful coins in these sets. Washington quarters never appealed to me before, but now...

Type2

Let's see the coins.

PawPaul

..lets see 'dem

devious

I just took some pictures. In no particular order, here's the random mixed unoriginal set? that i opened today... er at least some of it...

Monstarcoins

okay lets see the prettiest toned roosies!

greghansen

Look pretty nice!

guitarwes

Maybe the guy wrote "missin coins" on the envelope because he didn't realize they only did the P & D coins for these years?

devious

<< <i>Maybe the guy wrote "missin coins" on the envelope because he didn't realize they only did the P & D coins for these years? >>



There's that probability. My barber who has been collecting coins for the better part of the last 30 plus years thought the 1955 was tampered with because it was missing the S and D halves. I explained that there were no S/D mint halves for that year. Heh!

19Lyds

I would think that the stamps would have been in the same envelope as the receipt which stated that stamps were supplied.

Can you provide pictures of the mint set envelopes or whatever the sealed mint set(s) came in?

PCcoins

All the double mint sets have the following year on the envelope and the coins inside are from the previous year, like Tom said.

If you had a 1958 mint set, it would say 1959 on the envelope

devious

Okay, here's the pictures of the packaging.


This is how I received it.

This is also how I received it. The postal mailing envelope was opened.

The inner envelope was not opened. It was sealed. The receipt was INSIDE the COIN envelope (this envelope).

This is the cut I made with my barber's sheers. This was when the set was removed and the receipt was inside this envelope.

No big deal. I'm guessing the stamps may have been in the shipping envelope and not the coin envelope. But the receipt was in the coin envelope. So I don't know... Ah well! It's cool to have!

AuroraBorealis

Cool story and pics...Nice coins...

AB

Meltdown

My question is... what time should I be over for steaks?

OPA

<< <i>My question is... what time should I be over for steaks? >>



Steaks?...I thought it was ground beef.

devious

<< <i>My question is... what time should I be over for steaks? >>



Hahaha!!! Good catch! 5:30 CST

djdilliodon

The set is not original . What color is the paper covering the coins? Was it folded or torn in any spots? Does the boards have any creases in it? Double mint sets are very easily faked as unopened when only sealed in the inner envelope. I still buy them but wont pay a premium. If they are housed in a sealed outer shipping envelope then I will gladly pay a premium .

EDITED: due to terrible spelling

devious

Based on the quality of the coins in the modified set, I can't say I paid any premium, but I probably got a better deal. Aside from that, no big deal. A 1953 Mint set showed up today from across the river. Original mailing envelope and all. Almost done with the 50s and then onto the 40s.

Mint set collecting, what fun!

rainbowroosie

"okay lets see the prettiest toned roosies!'

See icon

Monstarcoins

<< <i>"okay lets see the prettiest toned roosies!'

See icon >>



Yea your not kidding....but i wanna see these ones! You should PM me the reverse of your avatar just so I can see.....cough and the price cough

devious

<< <i>

<< <i>"okay lets see the prettiest toned roosies!'

See icon >>



Yea your not kidding....but i wanna see these ones! You should PM me the reverse of your avatar just so I can see.....cough and the price cough >>



What you saw is about as good as I can do with the lighting in my place. I don't have any light fixtures to use unfortunately. Is it that one (or the ones) that shows in the mint set posted in this thread?

devious

I wanted to update this:

I know everybody said the coins in the 'unopened' mix coin mint set were likely tampered with. I do not doubt this. What I do doubt is that all the great coins were swapped. I say this because the toner franklin is awesome. Not to mention, I've ignored all of the nickels in mint sets since I started to purchase them a few months back. But the other day I decided to take a look at the nickels. I found a 1956-D full (5) step that was from that 'unoriginal unopened 1957/1956' mint set. Anyway, I just wanted to say that it overall was a fantastic buy even had it been opened. Only one other full step was found and it had a huge gash across the steps in the 12 mint sets that I have acquired.

This particular 1956-D nickel has five of six steps which I am going to guess is quite common with the 1956-D full step nickels. There are likely very few full six step 1956-D's based on what I've gathered thus far. Any nickel folks out there want to comment?

Also, a recent acquisition was a 1960-P nickel that appears to have been double struck. It has a doubled dome, all of the lettering (appears as machine doubling) both on obv/rev are doubled including the date. Double profile on jefferson, and even an extra step (well, the lower part of the building is doubled right below). On another forum, somebody confirmed that they too have a 1960-P that has the exact same details, but mentioned he had not just one, but a roll of them. I am guessing 1960 at Philadelphia they were double striking business strikes for a little bit? I'm again no nickel guy, but it's fun to report back what one finds and maybe a nickel guy could offer an explanation regarding this 1960-P? Were they double striking them on more than accident and if so, why?

NotSure

<< <i>I wanted to update this:

I know everybody said the coins in the 'unopened' mix coin mint set were likely tampered with. I do not doubt this. What I do doubt is that all the great coins were swapped. I say this because the toner franklin is awesome. Not to mention, I've ignored all of the nickels in mint sets since I started to purchase them a few months back. But the other day I decided to take a look at the nickels. I found a 1956-D full (5) step that was from that 'unoriginal unopened 1957/1956' mint set. Anyway, I just wanted to say that it overall was a fantastic buy even had it been opened. Only one other full step was found and it had a huge gash across the steps in the 12 mint sets that I have acquired.

This particular 1956-D nickel has five of six steps which I am going to guess is quite common with the 1956-D full step nickels. There are likely very few full six step 1956-D's based on what I've gathered thus far. Any nickel folks out there want to comment?

Also, a recent acquisition was a 1960-P nickel that appears to have been double struck. It has a doubled dome, all of the lettering (appears as machine doubling) both on obv/rev are doubled including the date. Double profile on jefferson, and even an extra step (well, the lower part of the building is doubled right below). On another forum, somebody confirmed that they too have a 1960-P that has the exact same details, but mentioned he had not just one, but a roll of them. I am guessing 1960 at Philadelphia they were double striking business strikes for a little bit? I'm again no nickel guy, but it's fun to report back what one finds and maybe a nickel guy could offer an explanation regarding this 1960-P? Were they double striking them on more than accident and if so, why? >>



Without an image, I'd imagine (as most probably will agree) it's machine doubling. Gotta see pics.

devious

Stolen from the original thread somewhere else...These images represent one from the other fellow which also is exactly how mine appears. It had been suggested in 2009 when the thread first appeared that it might be die deterioration?
Also, it is still of my opinion, having the coin in hand, it is in fact doubly struck. My wonderment starts when I find another person who has an entire roll of these and also wonders what is up with them? That's why I ask whether or not they were known to have been double struck. It's not all shelf doubling.

Very Large Images...Sorry!

frnklnlvr

Hard to tell from the images. The date looks like it might possibly be hub doubling but I can't say for certain. LIBERTY and MONTICELLO look to be machine doubling.