The closer you get to the wholesale market the more you'll find.
Now days the dealers who buy these over the counter and from estates are well aware that there can be cameo coins in them and are likely to open them to check or sell them at a premium to specific customers. There are still a lot of dealers who don't even glance at the coins whether opened or closed though.
I've said it a million times but don't write off sets just because they've been opened. Some collectors don't know what to expect or might even try to ac- cumulate the best sets so these can be a great source for superb coins. Some of the later sets that weren't sealed by the mint but are offered sealed are al- most always picked over though.
I have about 6 or 7 unopened proof sets from the 1950's. The envelopes are in pristine condition and have NEVER been opened. Any a few of them are on eBay right now. I bought a collection from a man who still kept all of his stuff in the boxes from the mint. The cardboard was opened but the envelopes were neatly still inside. He would buy 10 or so at a time. I guess he had no desire to open each and every one.
I still have a hoard of 1957'S and a few 1958's----envelopes have never been opened. How do I know?? Because I bought them from the mint in 1957 for $2.10 each.
I'm the Proud recipient of a genuine "you suck" award dated 1/24/05. I was accepted into the "Circle of Trust" on 3/9/09.
And guess what else? I have 10,000 Wheat Penny's I just bought as part of a collection. And you know what? I haven't searched them. I grabbed three handfuls, counted the % of teens, 20's etc. to accurately describe them when I list them on eBay. BTW, I got the following ratios.
About 2 years ago we bought 500 unopened sets from 1952-1964 over the counter from a 90+ year old guy going into a nursing home. Opened them all and only found about 6 coins worth the effort. I was going to sell the early 1960's ones unopened on eBay, but then I thought who would believe me....
I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector. Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
<< <i>About 2 years ago we bought 500 unopened sets from 1952-1964 over the counter from a 90+ year old guy going into a nursing home. Opened them all and only found about 6 coins worth the effort. I was going to sell the early 1960's ones unopened on eBay, but then I thought who would believe me.... >>
Exactly, crapola. That's why I won't search them. Been down that road too darn many times.
Comments
Camelot
<< <i>Try ebay.
There on there all the time, but are they really unopened?
Russ, NCNE
Now days the dealers who buy these over the counter and from estates are
well aware that there can be cameo coins in them and are likely to open them
to check or sell them at a premium to specific customers. There are still a lot
of dealers who don't even glance at the coins whether opened or closed though.
I've said it a million times but don't write off sets just because they've been
opened. Some collectors don't know what to expect or might even try to ac-
cumulate the best sets so these can be a great source for superb coins. Some
of the later sets that weren't sealed by the mint but are offered sealed are al-
most always picked over though.
<< <i>Slim to none, and slim is dead.
Russ, NCNE >>
Well, I hear that. Your next post will make 59,000
WTB: Barber Quarters XF
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
I grabbed three handfuls, counted the % of teens, 20's etc. to accurately describe them when I list them on eBay. BTW, I got the following ratios.
Dates Percent
1910's 6%
1920's 7%
1930's 9%
1940's 26%
1950's 51%
What are the chances someone else already has searched them ? Like Russ said "Slim is dead."
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>About 2 years ago we bought 500 unopened sets from 1952-1964 over the counter from a 90+ year old guy going into a nursing home. Opened them all and only found about 6 coins worth the effort. I was going to sell the early 1960's ones unopened on eBay, but then I thought who would believe me.... >>
Exactly, crapola. That's why I won't search them. Been down that road too darn many times.