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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,573 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
784 Posts |
So I'm wanting to put together a complete modern collection of coins. Modern to me is 1964 to current. Are buying mint sets the way to go here? I see thousands of them on ebay in multi year lots and I'm enticed by the ease and speed at which this could come together. I'd cut them out and put them in albums I think because I think most of the 'sets' look hideous and more like candy wrappers than a way to present coins. My question would be, is there a list I can refer to to get a basic baseline price for each year so I know what to expect going onto ebay or otherwise? For example, I saw a 1999 to 2012 complete P and D bulk auction for $150. Is that a fair price? Everything else seems to be around the $10 per set range up until multiple varieties of coins started appearing (state quarters, pres dollars, etc...) Any help or advice welcome! Even if it's don't buy mint sets, go this route instead! :) Thanks in advance oh great and mighty wellspring of knowledge that is this forum! Russ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2373 Posts |
The CDN greysheet has the bid and ask prices for sets from 1947 to 2012. Prices for sets should be able to be purchased in that spread. nlp
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2271 Posts |
You should understand that there is usually a very wide range of quality in mint sets. Almost every coin will be well struck by new dies unlike roll coins but there are still a lot of issues with these coins. While one mint set will tend to look a lot like another set the fact is only about two mint sets out of three have one nice gemmy coin or more. This will occur a little less often in the sets sold as lots and sets that come from the big wholesalers since many of these are pre-screened for high grade coins.
The best bet if you have a shop nearby or access to coin shows is to individually select sets. You'll end up buying more but the quality of your collections will be much higher. About 2% of mint set coins are solid Gems, 4-5% are nice near Gems, and 30% are chBU. This varies a lot by date though and some will require more searching.
While mint sets are very important to making any modern collection don't forget to watch for rolls and singles. Some coins don't appear in mint sets and some Gems are easier in rolls.
You can put together a great starter set by buying one of each mint set ans I wouldn't want to discourage you. But some dates just aren't going to very nice. The '68-D cent will have ugly carbon spots and the '69 quarter will look like it's been to the moon. You might do better buying the sets from sellers who have multiple dates so you have a better shot at choice sets and you can save on postage by buying several dates at once.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2150 Posts |
I bought a run of '65-'10 mint sets on ebay once and it ran about $350. But as cladking says a lot of the coins were dogs. A lot were hazy or had PVC residue. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
As clad said, you have to go through the sets yourself to make sure the coins are as nice as you want them to be. Especially the older sets. The cello they used in the 60's and early 70's just does not seem to be of the same quality as later years and the coins shift around and even tone badly. Not to mention carbon and milk spot issues. So it definitely behooves you to buy each one individually. Now, having said that, if you buy a big lot will you get good coins? Yep. There may be some problem coins here and there, but overall, the coins should be fairly nice coins. Certainly better than business strike coins. The majority of the non proof coins in my Danscos are from mint sets. Those that are not are up for replacement. So to the main point of the question, YES, mint sets is the way to go if you can. For values, I would suggest getting a subscription to Coin World and use their on line price guide. It is a good one and gives fair full retail values. Use that as your ceiling for value and there ya go. For 1999-2012, low end FRV goes about 350. So 150, as long as all the OGP is there, is a darn good deal IMO. |
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Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
Quote:
For example, I saw a 1999 to 2012 complete P and D bulk auction for $150. Is that a fair price? Everything else seems to be around the $10 per set range up until multiple varieties of coins started appearing (state quarters, pres dollars, etc...) That's a great price. I've bought a lot of mint sets individually and in lots. You can save a lot of money buying them in multiple date lots. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I like your idea of putting your modern sets together using mint sets .. that is exactly what I do. I also agree it is nice to see the coins .. because the early sets not always have good coins. Some things you might want to know. Mints sets started growing in size starting in 1999. 1999 mint sets started having ten quarters, instead of two 2000 Two Sacagawea dollars were added 2004/2005 has 4 nickels each year 2007 Presidential dollars (eight more in face value added) 2005 through 2010 the coins will be satin finish 2009 with the Lincoln cents (8 in the mint set) plus 12 territory quarters, has the most coins, 36 coins with a face value of $14.38. So part of the price increasing for some of the sets, is the face value has increased. The hardest modern set I have done recently is the Dansco 8166 Kennedy half dollars with proof only issues. It is a 160 coins, from 1964 through 2012 D. For some reason it seemed like a lot of mint/proof sets to break open. The silver proof sets can get pricey .. when you are just wanting the half dollar. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
784 Posts |
Great info! Couple of questions... - In relation to hazing and PVC damage, can it be removed with an acetone soak? If not, should I put a basement level on the dates I look for? I'm assuming it's because of age that the damage occurs? So for instance, just go for the 1980's and up or later? Does that make sense? - The 2005 through 2010 that GR58 mentioned are satin finish, is that different than regular strikes? - Part of the reason I'm wanting to try this is because I recently started a Presidential and Sacagawea dollar set by trying to ONLY use coins found at banks from original rolls with the Presidents or Sac date on the side of the roll. I've been to five banks and come out with 6 different Presidentials and 2 different Sac rolls. It's been a blast but I'm just noticing SO MANY bag marks and nicks! Out of all those rolls, I've pulled MAYBE two but usually one decent example. Do mint sets usually avoid things like this? I'm really chomping at the bit with coin shows because I can't find anything in Denver until May 19th and I keep cruising ebay auctions with free shipping and every time I get close to putting up a bid, my gut keeps saying, 'Wait until the expo...'. Of course, my excitement is saying, 'Buy them ALL right now!' :) I've never been to a coin show and only two coin shops EVER so a mass bulk of my collection has come from circulation or ebay. When I look at any individual Pres or Sac dollar on the bay, it seems like people want three times face plus $2.50 shipping and I'm sitting here going, that's gonna cost me five times as much over the long run over mint sets if I try to put this ENTIRE modern coin set together! Ok, awesome. Any more advice is great, you've given me a lot to think about and I'm probably going to be dipping my toe in the Mint Set water here very soon! Thanks! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2271 Posts |
The corrosion is primarily related to specific coin finisghes and dates. Pre-'85 mint sets have a thin layer of PVC plastic touching the coins and this has reacted badly in some cases. The worst is the '68-D cent which is a mess but there are lots of cents that have problems. '69 mint sets sometimes have mottleing on the clads. Most 40% silver halfs are affected. The '84-D cent is bad about 60% of the time. '70's era sets that were stored poorly are usually toned and sometimes badly.
Much of the problems will come off in acetone but not toning or carbon spots.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
- The 2005 through 2010 that GR58 mentioned are satin finish, is that different than regular strikes? Its just what they did for those years. If you want the circulating ones for those years youll have to find them in change or buy it not from the mint sets. As far as a basement date you can find old untoned sets, its just harder. What I do is if its a post 2000 set I'm not picky about where I get it from, almost all will look great. The older the set is though the pickier I am. Either I want to see pictures or only deal with sites that if I request untoned sets actually make an effort to find them. There are a couple that will try, most will just throw in the first set they see and it will probably be ugly for the older sets |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
The satin finish coins have two camps, those that like them and those that don't.
I am in the camp that like them. IMO, most cases they are higher grade coins, and because they only come in mint sets, they have lower mintage.
I think there are some collectors that find business strike coins to put into their albums, but then put a separate set of satin coins together.
I like the satins so much, couple weeks ago I saw a good deal on 2005 - 2010 set and picked them up .. have not even broke them up yet.
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Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
Most of the hazing can be removed with solvent. Except for the cents, the coins will turn out pretty well. If you want to cherry pick the best sets, expect to pay more. For my purposes, buying in bulk works best. You can certainly ask sellers on ebay about the conditions of the coins. You don't have to just roll the dice. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I wouldn't trust ebay. I'd look for a coin show. At a coin show you can see exactly what your buying, no postage, no handling, no lost in mail, no wrong item sent, etc. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
784 Posts |
I went to my local coin shop this morning and took a look at a 1976 Mint Set - they wanted $10. The coins were some of the most lack luster sad sacks I'd seen. Bag marks, scuffs and just overall 'dull'- for the most part. The quarters and dimes had pretty decent eye appeal but I see what your saying! I think I'll wait until the expo and take my pick of the litter.
I did however, pick up a 10x loupe which I've needed and drooled on their MS65 1909 Svdb ($6500) so that was worth it. :)
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
The sets with IKEs in them tend to be some of the ugliest sets out of them all from my experience as well
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,573 |
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Posted 04/09/2013 3:02 pm
