What to do with proof sets - UPDATED WITH IMAGES

gigem · April 29, 2006 4:54AM

All:

As you may know from my other posts, I am liquidating my grandfather's coin and currency collection. It's time for my next question...

For the mint sets, proof sets and other sets, I'm trying to determine the most profitable way to sell them. The easiest thing of course is just to list them on eBay "as is". But I read on here about people cracking this stuff open, having it graded, etc. So I am going to list what I have here, and I'm asking for your thoughts on anything special I might look for in these sets, or any thoughts on the value of breaking some of them up to either have pieces graded and/or sell coins individually.

Here goes. The number after the year indicates how many I have...

GSA MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR
1882 CC - 1 (looks nice to me. Should I get it graded?)

PROOF SETS
1957 - 1 (in a non-US Mint holder)
1958 - 1 (in a non-US Mint holder)
1968 - 2
1969 - 18
1970 - 4
1971 - 4
1972 - 4
1973 - 1
1974 - 3
1975 - 2
1976 - 4
1976 Bicentennial 3 coin proof set - 3
1977 - 5
1978 - 5 (unopened box of 5 from the US Mint)
1979 - 5
1982 - 3
1984 - 1

BROWN BOX IKE DOLLARS
1971 - 1
1973 - 2
1974 - 3

UNCIRCULATED IKE IN BLUE ENVELOPE
1972 - 2

SPECIAL MINT SETS
1966 - 12
1967 - 4

MINT SETS
1960 - 1
1961 - 2
1964 - 10
1965 - 12
1970 - 6
1971 - 4
1972 - 3
1973 - 3
1975 - 10
1976 - 5
1976 Bicentennial set - 6
1983 - 2

COMMEMORATIVES
1984 Olympic Prestige Set - 1
1982 George Washington Silver Comm. Proof - 3
1982 George Washington Silver Comm. Uncirculated - 1
American Revolution First Day Cover - 2
1975 Bicentennial First Day Cover - 3
1976 Bicentennial First Day Cover - 3
1974 - 1
1975 - 1

Any potential hidden gems in here? Anything I should be looking for?

Any of this stuff potential worth more "parted out" than in complete?

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge.

Fritz

Baley · April 29, 2006 5:12AM

Any or all of it could be trash or treasure: depends on what each coin looks like to an "experienced eye"

Excellent pictures would be a start, but there's no substitute for an in person inspection.

to try to tell you in typed words, what to look for, would be to attempt to boil years of experience down to a few sentences; can't do it.

it's nowhere near that simple to say if coins from proof sets are 'worth being graded'

odds are, most are not, but there may be a few cherries in there...

look for frosty heads and tails, with deeply mirrored fields, on the older coins..

CoinHusker · April 29, 2006 5:27AM

Sage advice. There's no subsitution for experience. Lacking that, may I suggest a local coin club? Coin shows, coin shops and coin dealers are not a novices best friend at times, but a coin club is usually made up predominantly of collectors who may be more willing to offer useful advice and opinions.

SmallSizedGuy · April 29, 2006 5:27AM

PM sent.

Steve27 · April 29, 2006 5:33AM

1) The GSA Morgan may be worth grading if it's nice (pics?); if so, send it to NGC and have it graded in the GSA holder (PCGS won't do that).
2) Look for cameos on the 57/58 proof sets (they can be worth money).
3) Check the condition of the 70-D halves; a 66 is worth a couple hundred bucks.
4) Throw the rest of it on ebay.

gamr0n · April 29, 2006 5:48AM

Sell them to me!!!!!!!!!!!

gamr0n · April 29, 2006 5:53AM

Proof coins to look for- note I excluded Ike varieties.

Cents:
1971s DDO

Dimes:
1968 no s
1970 no s

Dollars:
1979 clears s (t2)
1981 clear s (t2)

pharmer · April 29, 2006 5:55AM

<< <i>PM sent. >>

On that note, have you been moving much merchandise to forum members? I see you haven't had to bother with any bst threads.

MikeInFL · April 29, 2006 5:57AM

First, have an expert in cherrypicking mint/proof sets look over your coins for any rare/valuable examples.

Then, as profit is your goal...

If you are an experienced ebay seller, I would list them individually with high quality photographs.

If you are not an experienced ebay seller, I would consign them to ebay individually with Russ or someone else with a similar reputation.

cladking · April 29, 2006 8:30AM

For the mint sets there's probably not much unless you have some spectacular gems. Gems
would be well made and nearly mark free.

Also check the '70 sets for small date cents. These would have the bottom of the loop of the
"9" bent up almost parallel to the date. On the large date it will point down toward the mint
mark. Check the '65 sets for the half dollar having proper alignment. The reverse should be
upsidedown compared to the obverse. Check these for coins which are cameo: white devices
on mirror surfaces.

What kind of '83 sets are these? There are no regular '83 minrt sets so a description is necessary
to know what to look for. Some of these can be quite pricey.

Check the '68, '70, and '75 sets to see that all the coins have an S mint mark. Check the '79 sets
to see if any of the dollars have a crisp clear mint mark.

Check the bottom of the "R" in "LIBERTY" on the Ikes. If it lacks a serif it's more valuable.

Check the SMS's for cameo coins (frosted devices...)

Check the 3-pc bicentennial quarters for proper alignment.

There are many other varieties or things to look for but they either aren't worth much or there's
little chance of finding them.

One of the above coins is worth $50,000 and the cheapest is about $20.

Good luck.

ar18 · April 29, 2006 9:56AM

actually the Type 2 1981 sets are not clear s or not, the difference is the mint mark on the type 2 is flat(flat 2) most of the S coins come to a pyramid top, this is type 1, the cent and the dollar are the money coins with the flat S, don't be suprised if some coins have flat S and some have pointed tops(pyramids) in the same sets. Redbook has always been wrong on the 81 sets, 79 sets are clear or filled S, clear being the better of the coins.

J

gigem · April 29, 2006 10:07AM

EXCELLENT information guys, THANKS a ton!

So far I have found a cameo half in a 1967 SMS, and a cameo quarter in a 1966 SMS. Found several cameo dimes, too.

Here is a lame image of the 67 half cameo, done with my scanner. I know it's a cameo, because I can compare it to all of my other SMS's and it's clearly "frosted".

So do I bust out all of the cameo coins from the SMS's and send them for grading?

I've learned a little more about my 1983 mint sets. I have one of these, and one of these. Very cool! Never would have guessed them to be valuable.

THANKS AGAIN for all of the info!

ar18 · April 29, 2006 10:11AM

sorry not cameo material

gigem · April 29, 2006 10:16AM

Darn, thought I had one there. How about this quarter?

cladking · April 29, 2006 10:19AM

<< <i>

I've learned a little more about my 1983 mint sets. I have one of these, and one of these. Very cool! Never would have guessed them to be valuable.
>>

Those '83 sets are both good ones. The first is good for gem P dimes and quarters, and gem D nickles dimes and halfs. Most of the coins in this set are good sometimes. The second one shows up with nice D quarters and most of the P's are good for average quality. It also contains some type "d" (small motto) quarters from both mints but these don't command a premium yet. Unless the P quarters look special then it may be best to just go ahead and put them on Ebay. Don't forget though that these are scarce and virtually the sole source for '83 coinage so if any look gem they'll bring a big premium if graded.

ar18 · April 29, 2006 10:27AM

possibly, doubtful,the break in frosting bothers me, lets see the reverse.

gigem · April 29, 2006 10:39AM

I think if you saw the quarter in person it might be better. I don't have good technique on scanning coins yet. Here is the reverse. It looks less frosty to me in person, too.

Here is a link to a large image of the 1983 coins, too.

1983 mint set coins

They look good to me, except the cents. They have black marks on them.

ar18 · April 29, 2006 10:41AM

sorry, not nearly enough frosting, good pics though!

Russ · April 29, 2006 10:56AM

Any of the 1967 sets have Kennedys that look like this?

Russ, NCNE

What to do with proof sets - UPDATED WITH IMAGES

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