Seals: Mint Proof Set Packaging

The US proof sets were sealed up until 1999. Since then they have been in holder that can be opened and closed leaving no evidence. In my opinion this was a mistake and it has allowed so serious scamming over the years. In 1999 there were a lot of "error" proof sets that had one of the State Quarters missing and a duplicate of one of the others. These sets were selling for hundreds of dollars on ebay. Of course all you had to do was buy five regular 1999 sets for about $100, pay musical chairs with the quarters, snap the cases back closed and voila you had five of the error sets that would net you $3K or more on ebay.

Then in 2000 there were the ultra rare VIP 1999 proof sets! Now in 1999 the SBA proof came out late in the year so it wasn't included in the 1999 set. But in 2000 1999 sets with all 10 coins appeared on ebay. It was explained that these were special sets specially put together for VIP's and dignitaries. Strange thing though, the 1999 boxes they came in didn't indicate that they were special at all, and the insert inside the sets was the same color as that used in the 10 coin 2000 sets. All you had to do was by a cheap 2000 proof set a 1999 proof set and a 1999 proof SBA, put the 1999 coins in the 2000 holder, shap it closed and put it in the 1999 box and you had a "VIP" set worth thousands.

And of course there is the common scam of just replacing the silver coins in a silver proof set with the coins from a clad set. Especially popular with 1999 and 2001 sets.

Obviously I think they should be sealing the sets

I thank each of you for your information and explanations.

Permit me to say that removing a proof coin from it's container to insert it into an album rather gives me chills...

You have taught me that many "seals" are good only for consuming fish and balancing balls....

ibuck - lol...guess you're right about that for sure...

I had a proof set from when I was a kid that I dropped once and cracked. It wasn't until last year that I looked up it's value and saw it was worth less than $10 in great shape that I didn't mind breaking it open and then resealing the coins in air tight holders. They look much better now than they did behind that cracked plastic.

I agree ...

If you have a proof set that has high grade coins with
good eye appeal, breaking them out and putting them in
air-tite capsules might be a good idea.

More so for coins that have attractive toning.
Seal them up to try and keep the toning in the
attractive state.

Tick-tock! What are you waiting for?

Well, there is really a *TON* to know. More than any one person can. Don't get discouraged, just continue to learn and apply that knowledge.

Think of the fun you'll have going back through those sets and looking at them again to make sure they are indeed silver. It's not likely, but if they're not silver, don't beat yourself up, just move forward with a better understanding and use the regular proofs to fill some holes.

Hoping that your audit turns out well.

Be sure to click on tissue test to see an example of the difference.