unopened mint sets and proof sets.

route66 · December 27, 2003 4:43AM

Is there a way that you can tell if proof sets and mint sets have been opened?? For sure?? I know that there are 1964 envelopes around. I'll probably stay away from them. What exactly do I have to know to keep from getting ripped off. Steve

JohnZ · December 27, 2003 4:46AM

They are a roll of the dice. Many of them have likely been opened and resealed. I went through a phase of buying unopened mint and proof sets, but never came across anything spectacular. What I did come across was a lot of damaged coins.

Russ · December 27, 2003 4:53AM

There's really no way to tell "for sure". There are some telltale signs to look for. For example, with flat pack proof sets, the mint generally did NOT seal the entire flap, only the middle third or so. Thus, if you get one that's sealed all the way to the edges, it's likely a repack.

As far as I know, the mint never sealed mint sets, so if you see them being sold as "mint sealed" either they've been checked and sealed, or they became sealed from storage in a humid environment.

And, there are a lot more than just 1964 envelopes around. Every year is readily available, both as aftermarket reprints and originals that were never used by the government, and sold off in bulk.

Bottom line is that most of the stuff being sold on eBay as "mint sealed" is not. The only way to be absolutely certain is if it's still in the sealed, postmarked shipping packaging.

Russ, NCNE

jonesy · December 27, 2003 4:59AM

Unopened mint sets and proof sets are coin collector urban legends.

MICHAELDIXON · December 27, 2003 5:01AM

Unfortunately, there are "new" envelopes for all year proof and mint sets. Unless you buy directly from a collector who has stored them since new, you cannot be sure they are unopened.

XpipedreamR · December 27, 2003 5:01AM

I wouldn't believe an old proof/mint set would really be unopened.

If you had one, how could you not open it?

relayer · December 27, 2003 6:55AM

When they advertise unopened sets on eBay, it just means that there state today is unopened

nankraut · December 27, 2003 8:54AM

I agree 100% with JohnZ. Why buy something "sight-unseen?". It doesn't take a rocket scientist to open and reseal a paper envelope/cardboard box in a way that cannot be detected. When I see people paying $800.00 for an "unopened" 1951 US Proof set on EBAY (no return privilege), it makes me shake my head. Someday, when they finally do open it, they may find 5 rusty washers in there. W.C. Fields must be chuckling in his grave.

nankraut

keets · December 27, 2003 9:51AM

hey Route66

try to ignore all the bias and BS and pay attention to what Russ said in his last sentence, especially.

Bottom line is that most of the stuff being sold on eBay as "mint sealed" is not. The only way to be absolutely certain is if it's still in the sealed, postmarked shipping packaging.

al h.

route66 · December 28, 2003 4:54AM

thanks for all the replies. I kind of figured it wouldn't be easy. By the way, anyone got any unopened mint sealaed boxes for sale??? I imagine they go for a lot more than your generic set. Steve

cosmos66 · December 28, 2003 4:58AM

I am taking a chance on this dutch auction just for kicks:

unopened proof sets?

jeffnpcb · December 28, 2003 5:07AM

No such animal! Marty has bought them all up and rat-holing them in his garage!

route66 · December 28, 2003 6:14AM

where's his garage??????????????

jimtre · December 28, 2003 1:25PM

I was at a coin dealers monday. I was looking at 56 proof sets. One of them was sealed. I asked him if I could open it and he said no and then said he had just bought a box of 50 unsealed proof sets Saturday.

I ended up buying them. They were in the box but the flap that had the name on was missing. He said a lady had brought it in Saturday.

I got home and looked at them and they were sealed except one. The half in it was cam.

I also bought 2 56 proof sets and one was the sealed one.

Jim

unopened mint sets and proof sets.

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