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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,779 |
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Hi, New guy here. My apologies if I ask something or this post is something that makes you roll your eyes. So, I bought a 1975 and 1976 uncirculated mint set from ebay. The seller has a 100% rating and the item posting didn't raise any red flags with me. I get the coins and they are in the cellophane packaging with red and blue strips. Nothing unusual yet. Here's where I start getting concerned. When I put the coins under a magnifying glass (still in packaging and I can tell between the packaging and coin), the coins have marks consistent with circulated wear. As an example, there is a gouge across Eisenhower's eyebrow. Now, I know these coins may not be perfect, because they get handled at the mint and it's over 40 years old, but I wanted to know if I should be up in arms like I am. Specifically, does anyone know how the mint processed the bicentennial sets? These sets I received look like coins that have 3 to 5 years worth of circulation were put into cellophane. Did the mint package lightly circulated coins in the bicentennial sets? I have attached some photos, but it is difficult to get the camera to show the issues. You can see the eyebrow gouge for sure though. Thanks so much for your time in advance.      |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10029 Posts |
The mint used to make up the mint sets just by dipping into the same bins as coins destined for circulation were taken from before leaving the mint. Therefore the coins ejected from the presses into the outflow bin would fall onto the already ejected coins in the bin and produce the bangs and dings.
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Moderator
 United States
187678 Posts |
 to the Community! Your post was moved to the appropriate forum for the proper attention.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19931 Posts |
Mint set coins develop the same blemishes as regular, mint state, circulation coins during production. The mint claims to use "a little more care" on the mint set coins, but they are typically quite beat up. The only real guarantee is that the coins are mint state but definitely not "flawless".
This looks like a typical set. My LCS usually sells these at or near face value as they are very abundant.
Edited by BadThad
01/02/2022 12:54 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19113 Posts |
Agree with all above. Uncirculated mint sets--unfortunately--are not assembled with extreme care, such as an employee lovingly removing each coin from a striking chamber by hand and gently placing it into a cello packaging machine. I happen to like the '75 and '76 mint sets because they can have some pretty strong toning.
Edited by ijn1944
01/02/2022 08:05 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I see the dings. Appear to be hardly worth collecting.
Surely the mint can do better than that, and ask the collector to pay a premium for what are really no more than business strike coins in fancy packaging.
Does the Mint strike specially prepared specimen sets in standard metals?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19113 Posts |
With this topic, we're talking about mint sets assembled 45+ years ago--with many of those sets being jostled around from collector-to-collector over the ensuing years. I do believe the quality of mints sets the last 10 years is superior to that of '76.
At coins shows I typically check through 20-25 sets of '75s and 76s. I pick up the ones having strong toning and fewer dings. Several times I've just walked away because the sets had clearly been 'over jostled'--nearly ruptured cello packaging, strong rub marks on the cello (transmitted to coins inside), etc.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
In my experience, these ae not unusual for the era. to the CCF! |
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Moderator
United States
94765 Posts |
 with the above The newer sets are being produced with much better quality |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7505 Posts |
@Earl42 and @BadTad, summed it up perfectly. It has nothing to do with the seller. It is not unusual to see coins in original mint cello with scratches ,gouges and numerous contact marks due to getting hit by other coins during the ejection onto the holding Bin after they're struck. to Community. Edited by Chase007
01/02/2022 10:51 am
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New Member
 United States
13 Posts |
Thank you everyone! I appreciate all the help. I love hearing about coins and learning new things!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1484 Posts |
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Those Ikes, at almost 23 grams apiece, really took a beating before ever seeing the light of day.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
Mint set coins are struck under higher pressure with newer dies and at slower speeds than circulation issues but they have always been subjected to collisions along the way. Most are washed and dried and it's the dryer that probably imparts most of the marking. They are tumbled dry in a cement mixer like machine with ground corn cobs. In the mid-'70's a lot of them were damaged being placed in the set and in 1980 almost all the Denver half dollars were scraped. The '75 set is one of the worst and the '76 isn't much better. Some of the coins from the '90's are almost impossible to find clean.
If you like coins without marks you're sometimes better off looking in rolls but then you might never see a good strike.
The best 2% of mint set coins are usually Gem but some are much scarcer or a little more common. The '76 type I Ike is the toughest in Gem and the '89-D cent is the easiest. Some of the cents are typically chGem.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
It seem that the dings were acquired from small hits through the cello.
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Cladking, thanks for the great information!
Also, thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. Much appreciated.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,779 |
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Posted 01/01/2022 11:26 pm
