unopened proof sets

laurentyvan · November 11, 2003 11:10PM

How likely is it that Northeast numismatics (an excellent seller I understand) which is advertising 12 U.S. 1957 unopened proof sets on their website really knows whether or not the sets are actually unopened? Couldn't the envelopes have been steamed open in the past by someone else and then carefully resealed? Their reputation seems impeccable but how can they really be sure...

JohnZ · November 11, 2003 11:19PM

They can't really be sure. My experience with unopened proof sets is much like playing the lottery. I've gotten some nice ones, and some real stinkers. Even if they were truly unopened, there's no telling if they were properly stored or not. I've opened quite a few that I knew for a fact were original, only to find corroded coins.

MadMarty · November 11, 2003 11:23PM

I agree with John, It's a roll of the dice!

TheNumish · November 11, 2003 11:26PM

I think the sets would be unopened. What is more likely is that they probably spot checked the sets. Maybe they bought 15 sets and opened three to see if there was anything good. If there was anything good they would have opened the rest. Since they didn't find anything they are selling the rest as unopened sets.

tonyhar · November 12, 2003 12:18AM

I agree it is like the lottery ( except you do not loose all of your stake ).
I have had some great results and some rubbish.

MacCrimmon · November 12, 2003 12:19AM

I still have a few from an estate purchase and all thus far sold have been with no complaints. Bottom-line is the storage conditions. The pliofilm could have and often did come directly from the Mint with pinholes or poor heatsealing. In those events, you will have some spotting or other problems. How do you know? You can't really. It's a pig in a poke. Could be cameos, probably not. I'll tell you this, if you actually hear coins "clinking" inside the envelope, refuse the set. The heatseal has failed and there's a 99% chance a 'train wreck' is inside.

1957 is very common, BTW. That was the year that burned everyone out on these sets, hence the 'relative scarcity' of 1958s.

telecoin · November 12, 2003 12:23AM

The question of unopened proof sets is interesting. I am not old enough to have ordered them directly from the mint in the late 50's to early 60's to have fisrt hand knowledge as to whether the mint actually sealed them or not. All of the mint sets I recieved in the 70's were unsealed. I did purchase a group of early 60's sets last year that were all unsealed. Anyone could have easily licked and sealed tham. The mint probaly did not seal them. Over time they became sealed by moisture, or by buyers sealing them after they got them. The rest were probably sealed more recently. I have even seen coin supply dealers selling replica envelopes, that were basically undistinguishable from the originals. Saying that, I also must include that some sets that were sealed have yielded nice coins. Last weekend at a show I purchased 5 1960 proof sets that were sealed (for ask). 4 of the sets had beautiful deep cameo quarters (now in for grading) and the 5th one had a nice double die quarter in it. As long as you don't pay too much, it can be interesting to buy them for fun.

LanLord · November 12, 2003 1:31AM

My question is, "were there any PROOF sets that came from the mint sealed in the envelope?"

I have seen a lot of these from many different dealers which had opened envelopes and the gum was untouched. Then I have seen many with sealed envelopes, I always assumed those were the ones that some ignoramus sealed thinking that it would make them more interesting to people like me.

I don't know if I would believe in a bunch of sealed sets.

MadMarty · November 12, 2003 1:42AM

I got a sealed box of 10 1964 proof sets, the envelopes were sealed.

skate4357 · November 12, 2003 1:48AM

It has been my experience as a buyer of numerous Sealed Mint boxes that ALL have not been sealed. I for one would NEVER buy a so-called Sealed mint package.

DAM · November 12, 2003 1:48AM

I'd be very leary! I've seen new envelopes for sale on ebay. I seem to remember the person selling them also had some "unopened sets" for sale.

Buy a new envelope, insert the coins, and advertise it as "unopened". Technically the truth.

keets · November 12, 2003 1:52AM

Marty and Jaimie raise interesting points. i would have assumed that the sets were sent unlicked/unsealed, and unless i'm really paranoid and figure Marty's box was opened and the envelopes sealed after being searched and then the box resealed, i guess it was random, dependent on who was working at the mint and how they did things. different members post about finding things in sealed sets so i guess it was a common enough ocurrence at the mint ti seal them, probably not some edict, though. for the most part, with all the envelopes made and sold to replicate the originals, i'm unwilling to pay a premium for individual sets. i will, however, buy the sealed boxes with all the mailing stickers on them. they seem quite a bit more legitimate and less prone to tampering, thus worthy of taking a chance.

al h.

Russ · November 12, 2003 2:14AM

<< <i>I have even seen coin supply dealers selling replica envelopes, that were basically undistinguishable from the originals. >>

Some of the envelopes on the market are undistinguishable from the originals because they are originals. The mint, through the GSA, liquidated packaging materials by the truckload in the 70's. The biggest buyers of this stuff were high volume wholesale coin dealers.

<< <i>I got a sealed box of 10 1964 proof sets, the envelopes were sealed. >>

I've picked up three unopened boxes, and the sets in mine were also sealed. The two packs, (outer shipping envelope sealed), I've bought also contained sealed proof sets. However, usually only the center third of the flap was glued down. I get suspicious when I get "mint sealed" proof sets where the entire flap has been moistened for sealing.

As for mint sets, as far as I know, those were never sealed at the mint. I don't normally buy them, so I have little experience in that area. But, I had a chance a while back to witness the opening a sealed shipping box of 50 1964 mint sets and none of the envelopes were sealed.

As has been said, though, even with the real deal the odds are very long. I can't speak for other years, but with the 1964 proof sets, I'd say it's about a 98% chance one will find nothing of consequence.

Russ, NCNE

unopened proof sets

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