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The US Mint must hate me...2009 Proof quality...it sucks!
greghansen
Posts: 4,301 ✭✭✭
My order of 20 of the 2009 Proof Sets arrived last week. I left them unopened in their box figuring I would check them this weekend and have a nice glow, since the earlier threads on these sets was by and large very favorable with regard to the quality of the coins.
Well, I just finished opening mine and only 8 of the 20 sets are remotely passable. And that's after making as many keeper sets as I could from the 20 full sets.
Now before you scream about how I'm just hunting for 70's, I don't even send proofs in for grading. I couldn't tell a 69 from a 70 on a good day. But since the lincoln cent coins are such an important part of this set, I was hoping those coins would at least look like nice modern proofs. It seems the most problems are related to the 'Adult Years' cent, which will be the next one released. On almost all of my reject sets there is unacceptable hazing or spotting in the fields. I'm wondering if I'm 'too picky'. I don't think so, because I'm talking about stuff that I saw with my naked eye. I didn't use a loupe to reject any of these sets. Just used my naked eye to see if they looked like nice proofs. I'm posting three of the lincoln cent images to give you a notion of what I'm dealing with. One of the cents has a rediculously nasty scratch on it.
While the cents were the most problematic, there was also peripheral hazing on a 3-4 sets of the state quarters, and cameo breaks visible to the naked eye on 2-3 of the kennedy half dollars. I didn't image all that, cause I figured I could mix and match and get about 16-17 decent sets...but for the problems with the cents.
Would you keep these sets or send them back. I'm inclined to send them back. I'm not comfortable selling these down the road as proofs, and I hate to imagine what some of those hazy areas might look like in 3-5 years time? What do you think?
Well, I just finished opening mine and only 8 of the 20 sets are remotely passable. And that's after making as many keeper sets as I could from the 20 full sets.
Now before you scream about how I'm just hunting for 70's, I don't even send proofs in for grading. I couldn't tell a 69 from a 70 on a good day. But since the lincoln cent coins are such an important part of this set, I was hoping those coins would at least look like nice modern proofs. It seems the most problems are related to the 'Adult Years' cent, which will be the next one released. On almost all of my reject sets there is unacceptable hazing or spotting in the fields. I'm wondering if I'm 'too picky'. I don't think so, because I'm talking about stuff that I saw with my naked eye. I didn't use a loupe to reject any of these sets. Just used my naked eye to see if they looked like nice proofs. I'm posting three of the lincoln cent images to give you a notion of what I'm dealing with. One of the cents has a rediculously nasty scratch on it.
While the cents were the most problematic, there was also peripheral hazing on a 3-4 sets of the state quarters, and cameo breaks visible to the naked eye on 2-3 of the kennedy half dollars. I didn't image all that, cause I figured I could mix and match and get about 16-17 decent sets...but for the problems with the cents.
Would you keep these sets or send them back. I'm inclined to send them back. I'm not comfortable selling these down the road as proofs, and I hate to imagine what some of those hazy areas might look like in 3-5 years time? What do you think?
Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
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...........INCREDIBLE!! i'd send them back. i had bad proofs also and high-tailed them to the post office. got my replacements, and well, let's just say they are better. BUT some lincolns are still smeared! it's AMAZING! you would think that they would at least inspect the REPLACEMENT SET before shipping! INCREDIBLE!
I had to do that with them for my one and only purchase this year (I sent back my high relief) as the customer service SUCKED ROCKS. They were rude and never processed the refund. I followed all instructions to a T and had my delivery confirmation so it was a fast 'investigation'. It was amusing though, when the credit did come through they tried to not refund my original shipping, but, as it was a CHARGEBACK the full amount had to be paid back--despite their policy of not refunding shipping.
It made me laugh. Out loud even. (Of course, I did pay to return the POS poor quality crap, but it was worth it). Can't ever imagine buying another thing from them again.
Good luck with all that.
Cathy
<< <i>Send them back. And wait. And wait. And wai. And wait. And wait for your refund. Then call your credit card company and do a chargeback.
I had to do that with them for my one and only purchase this year (I sent back my high relief) as the customer service SUCKED ROCKS. They were rude and never processed the refund. I followed all instructions to a T and had my delivery confirmation so it was a fast 'investigation'. It was amusing though, when the credit did come through they tried to not refund my original shipping, but, as it was a CHARGEBACK the full amount had to be paid back--despite their policy of not refunding shipping.
It made me laugh. Out loud even. (Of course, I did pay to return the POS poor quality crap, but it was worth it). Can't ever imagine buying another thing from them again.
Good luck with all that.
Cathy >>
If you call them afterwards, they will refund your return shipping.
<< <i>If you call them afterwards, they will refund your return shipping. >>
The problem was that they never processed my refund for the return after even 5 weeks after the signature confirmation was done. Besides who needs to get yelled at and/or hung up on by the so-called customer service reps--again. Not all the reps were rude of course, but a couple were flagrantly awful, but even the polite and friendly ones couldn't get the job done.
So, I called BofA and did the chargeback which ultimately was satisfying. Especially because the credit was done in two parts-- the original coin cost, followed by the second credit for the shipping cost. It looked like they tried jack Mastercard a tad, and MC jacked back when the full amount wasn't refunded initially.
Oh well, the mint got the crap back and I got my money, and the mint paid for an awful lot of 1-800 time....I hope this refund goes a little better, and the idea to send a letter with pictures to Mr. Moy sounds like fun too.
Cathy
mint QC is slipping.
I go to my local dealer these days and pick through his stock. Even then it's not great. Every one of the Zackary Taylor dollars in his sets had spots. Since the presidential dollars are the least interesting thing about the set for me, I bought it anyway.
Edited to say. I'm not into getting these coins slabbed so I don't need them in PR-70, DCam. But I do want decent Proof coins, and right now the mint is doing a bad job of supplying them.
Why not specify scratches , hazing, spots, and smudges on this piece as a reciprocal gesture from his customers?
What's fair is fair.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
<< <i>Personally, I'm holding out for the Silver Proof Set. I hope it's not going to look like the examples posted here or else it'll definitely be sent back with no intentions of purchasing from the mint again. >>
Most of the coins that are really bad are the cents and presidential dollars. You will be seeing the same coins in the silver sets made of the same base metal. The biggest risk with the silver sets is fingerprints just as it is with the clad sets. I hope the silver sets are better, but don't hold your breath.
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Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum
the best quality in several years.
I just received grades from NGC and received 1 PR67, PR68 only 6 out of 40 70's.
Better than the average though.
If they grade this low at NGC what will PCGS pops look like?
Joe
<< <i>I just received grades from NGC and received 1 PR67, PR68 only 6 out of 40 70's.
Better than the average though.
If they grade this low at NGC what will PCGS pops look like?
Joe >>
A scarecrow laughing his ass off to the bank. PCGS is tough on these moderns I tell ya..
Fred, Las Vegas, NV
Paul Gilkes
Coin World
Senior Staff Writer
Paul Gilkes
Coin World
Senior Staff Writer
Since you can only return complete sets, I have returned them for replacements.
BUT...... has anyone ever asked the Mint DIRECTLY what the reason is behind all the spots and RECEIVED any answer?
- - Dave