Little Bored .. Thought I Would Break Open Some Proof Sets

I open all sets. Very fun for me.
Sometimes I get very surprised looks from people who collect sets.
When I told this to the woman at my post office she told me the coins are only worth money if they are sealed in original package. Not true I told her.
I keep the coins I want get rid of the rest.
I agree with Bryan about loosing interest in pocket change. I like the uncirculated coins from sets to save when putting modern coins in a binder.

GR58, I dont think anyone is attacking your way of collecting. I think it is simply a matter of not understanding why you would just dump a bunch of proof and mint set coins at a bank. I know thats where I jump the track here.

Breaking the sets is no issue at all. As I said, I do the same thing and get a kick out of the grimaces from VACookey when she hears the cracking of the plastic holders. LOL

I do get the thing of how many 72S dimes can you keep. But dumping them at a bank? Dude, like I said, plenty of us here would gladly pay for the shipping and your troubles to send them out. Its just the thought of all those beautiful coins getting grimey and oily and scratched that gets me.

I kind of like the fact of dumping them especially if the person is not interested in trying to sell them. One of these may just be the coin that a kid gets in change that really sparks their interest in coins and creates a new collector. I do understand the idea that not everyone is out to make every penny they can and some things are more important to them than making a few extra dollars like if only one of the coins is kept and creates one new collector it would be worth it to me. I can also understand that there are allot of people that have to scrounge up for every coin they have so I understand this may not be the way they would do it. Its almost like holding a contest and giving coins away except when you do it that way you don't even get the face value out of the coin but they do hopefully go to someone that will cherish it. If you are having a contest though chances are its not going to be a new collector that wins it, its going to have to be someone that already collects to even enter the contest so the chances are greater that a new collector will get it by dumping them. just the thought of some little kids eyes brighten up when they see the coin in their hand would probably be enough for me to keep dumping the extras. The idea about sending them to the "get the kids hooked" is another good idea and will probably have about as good of a chance as dumping them because I am sure some old geezers probably have kids go up and get coins for them because they know they are only being given to the kids

GR58 , I have uncirculated and proof sets from 1954 to present

If really all depends on how many you have. I've sold some of my extras on ebay, it does take some time listing them all and theres not exactly a shortage of them on there. I've got a massive pile of pennies, nickels, dimes, half dollars, and the Native American dollars and it is a little tempting to just unload them and be done with it then try and sell anything but the halfs

What Jbuck said. I am not so convinced that releasing hundreds of dollars of proofs and mint set coins into the wild are going to cause some kid to all of a sudden go Oooooo, look, a shiny coin. I think I will start collecting coins. Honestly, the odds of that happening are slim to none. But then, to each their own.

Just so maybe we can have a better understanding. I am thinking some members may not know how little dealers will pay for proof sets in the years 1970 through 1998. Some dealers will pay 40% back of greysheet, many times this is less than face value. Some dealers will pay face value, not many will pay over face.

If a collector tries to sell them on their own, as basebal posted this does take a lot of time, with listing the coins .. getting packages together .. and dealing with problems.

Bryan1315 thoughts on kid or even older person might get some proof coins in change, and become a new collector.

There is also the thought that by breaking hundreds .. well over time for me .. thousands of proof sets, it might make the sets that are left worth more. Also imagine if all the Lincoln 1909 S VDB cents were saved in top grade .. then they would not have the value they have today.