What do you think the survival rate is for 1936-1942 proof sets or singles?

SanctionII · August 22, 2011 6:26AM

I suspect the survival rate is fairly high (80%+) since these coins were sold to collectors and were not intended to circulate.

However, I also suspect that of the surviving sets or singles, a large percentage them are no longer in "gem" condition due to various factors (carbon spots, hairlines, marks, cleaning, thick ugly toning, etc.).

Your thoughts please.

P.S. For the 1950-1955 sets the survival rate is probably even greater, though many are not "gem" for the same reasons. For the 1956 -1954 sets the number of gems is probably much higher due to the flat pack packaging.

magikbilly · August 22, 2011 8:11AM

Hi,

I am told the rate is high (not necessity for original sets!). However, I have some trouble when looking for what you are calling "Gem" - in my case, really undipped examples. All that glitters...I think they are undervalued. I always think they are undervalued though

Best,
Eric

291fifth · August 22, 2011 8:16AM

I suspect the survival rate is over 90% though many are impaired.

pennyannie · August 22, 2011 8:48AM

<< <i>I suspect the survival rate is over 90% though many are impaired. >>

Well said, you can find many that have been ruined.

stevek · August 22, 2011 9:00AM

Yea, ebay always has these coins available which have been dipped and redipped who knows how many times...and they display them with the "distant pics" - they don't wanna give ya too much of a closeup view of what in my opinion is essentially a ruined coin.

cladking · August 22, 2011 9:25AM

I'd guess it's closer to 65%.

These were fairly inexpensive and some would be sold to children and individuals who did
not extremely value them. Many would have simply been spent in the first several years of
their existence and many more would have been burned up in fires or destroyed in floods.
70 years is a long time.

I agree that many are degraded but most have only minor problems like hairlining. I'd figure
50% of the survivors are degraded.

shorecoll · August 22, 2011 10:32AM

I think many are now "put together" sets as opposed to original. Maybe that's what magik meant. The gems have been pulled out and replaced with dregs.

cladking · August 22, 2011 10:44AM

<< <i>I think many are now "put together" sets as opposed to original. Maybe that's what magik meant. The gems have been pulled out and replaced with dregs. >>

The number of original sets left is very low and almost none in original packaging.

What do you think the survival rate is for 1936-1942 proof sets or singles?

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