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 Replies: 17 / Views: 10,444 |
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Valued Member
United States
218 Posts |
Hi.was wondering if proof sets from 1955-1964 envelopes were sealed when they shipped from the mint ? Thanks for any and all information on this Edited by jakeman406
02/12/2013 1:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
Yes, they were sealed in clear plastic, but they were flexible packaging, not hard plastic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7187 Posts |
And they were shipped in a yellow envelope and the packaging contained a US Mint Philadelphia emblem sealed with the coins. There is an additional paper that states: "If there should appear - what may seem to you - a defect or scratch on a coin - it is, no doubt, a crease in the packaging material. We tell you this to save bout unnecessary correspondence."
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
I think a lot of people are hung up on mint packaging. If you look at ebay you can see people reselling COA and boxes for newer mint sets. If you are around long enugh, you'll also find people who sell packaging and envelopes for the older sets. What that tells me, is buy whats in the package - not the package - very much the same premise as buying the coin not the slab. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
Quote:
Hi.was wondering if proof sets from 1955-1964 envelopes were sealed when they shipped from the mint ? Yes, the yellow envelope holding the set was sealed... |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I heard,"don't remember where or when" that the yellow or white envelopes that held the coins in cellophane were not sealed by the mint. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
One of the key points of the "sealed" sets is that have not been cherry-picked for possible Cameos, double dies, or varieties. On the other hand, you never know these sets may have been left in an undesirable environment and they look like total "________" (fill in whatever undesirable descriptive word you see fit). They are a gamble. Do you feel lucky?  Edited by oih82w8
02/13/2013 08:15 am
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1380 Posts |
John is right. The Mint has stated repeatedly that the white or yellow envelopes were never sealed by / at the mint. Over the ensuing years, many have become sealed from moisture in the air, but all were originally unsealed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The envelopes were NOT sealed as they came from the mint.
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
I also recall hearing that the envelopes were NOT sealed at the mint. Re: oih82w8's comment, I interpret this the other way. A sealed envelope has likely already been cherry picked. Yes, it could have been sealed by moisture over the ensuing years, but I rather think a lot of folks seal up ho-hum sets for the "gamble" element discussed above.
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
Quote:
What that tells me, is buy whats in the package - not the package - very much the same premise as buying the coin not the slab.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
Strange about the "sealed" thing...my father bought me 5 1964 proof sets and they were sealed when given to me (in 1964) I opened one but the other 4 are still sealed... From "A guide to buying Early Proof Sets" Quote:
First, a little history. The 1954 Proof Set came in a square box and the coins were in individual cellophane holders wrapped in tissue. Starting in mid 1955, the sets came in a cellophane holder, inside a brown envelope. In 1965, 66, and 67, no proof sets were minted. Instead, Special Mint Sets were substituted, of 40% silver. The 1965 was in a white envelope, the '66 and '67 were in plastic holders in a box. It's important to note that the envelopes of the 1965 sets were not sealed. So, if you see an offer for a Never Opened 65, avoid it. Proof Sets resumed in 1968 and are also in plastic holders inside a box. One would deduct that the earlier envelopes (other than the 1965) WERE sealed |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
@Foxwoods I have envelopes from the 50's and 60's. Brand new envelopes from the mint with the seal never touched. I bought those years ago simply to upgrade the bad or missing ones I had. I also have some marginal coin sets from those years I could literally seal inside the envelope and post to ebay saying sealed never opened... and be almost completely accurate in my statement. I highly recommend to anyone buying any set on ebay or anywhere else to simply buy the set because you desire it, not based on how it is packaged. I see people bidding these up like crazy hoping to get a diamon in the rough and usually they are just getting the rough. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1339 Posts |
This is a great topic!...I dont have any factual info.,,,but, My wife just bought two yellow sealed 1957 froof sets... I've seen a number of 55-64 look to be opened with knife or letter opener...? Guess maybe some folks sealed them up after looking at them,,,,,maybe they were cut open after recieving from the mint,,or were sealed at the mint..? I've never seen a white envelope sealed....Have a number of them........Foxwoods got new ones sealed!! I assume the mint sealed them....Ahh, The mystery of it all
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
Quote:I highly recommend to anyone buying any set on ebay or anywhere else to simply buy the set because you desire it, not based on how it is packaged. I see people bidding these up like crazy hoping to get a diamon in the rough and usually they are just getting the rough. Very true....sealed means nothing. I did an experiment and it was VERY easy to steam open a proof yellow envelope, check out its contents, and just reseal it. You could NOT tell that it had been opened. |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
I wrote the US mint about this topic asking for the history on how they shipped out the mint and proof sets. And as I await a final resolution to this question as well I found the same answers all over the internet and as posted here. I can't speak 100% for proof sets for sure and please know, I respect anyone's knowledge and longevity in this business. I've also been told about the counterfeit envelopes also being sold on ebay in the so called sealed envelopes. I am surer of the mint sets, you know, uncirculated ones; I have many of these and never saw them sealed up unless someone other than the mint did it. I'm 63 and have had sets since the early days. After I think 1972 the mucilage side of the envelope isn't even there to seal with, most likely because the mint never used this function/option of the envelope the following years as mentioned by other sources as well. All my older sets, 1971 and prior have the mucilage flap but have never been sealed. All my sets after 1972 are in fact without mucilage to wet and seal with, why? How could you have the same white envelopes from the mint after 1972 with mucilage on them? Could someone be printing this with mucilage stuff on them and sealing them? It sure isn't the mint doing this. It's so apparent to me that those offering sealed sets for sale have already searched these. I buy unopened boxes mailed from the mint, sealed with original post marks/certified tape/stamped and inside these old finds, the mint sets are not sealed. I have one I will open soon from 1971 that has 2 mint sets inside and I'll let you know here as these were mailed in 1971 originally from the US Assay Office Numismatic Service in San Francisco registered mail all sealed up still. These are the type of sets I only buy. I'm sure some suppliers can't come up with a valid reason nor will they admit it but if you research this, you'll find what I'm pointing out is very true for any US mint sets, proof or uncirculated. The mint clearly didn't then and don't now seal the holders/envelopes. If you bought some even many years ago sealed, you got taken for a ride. Edited by ThatOldCoinGuy
03/06/2019 1:54 pm
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Replies: 17 / Views: 10,444 |
Posted 02/11/2013 7:28 pm
