It depends on the year. Sometimes they are worth more, for example, if they are separated and certified, but sometimes, values stay the same or even go down.
Actually, you wanna make any dealer who has them closed open them I heard one dealer say. You wanna make sure its real.
Proof sets started in envelopes with the introduction of the "flat pack" in 1955 thru 1964 (prior dates came in boxes) and as far as I know, the envelopes were not sealed at the Philly Mint. Others say they did, I contend that humidity eventually sealed the adhesive gum on the flap. Recently, since the inception of e-Bay, sealed proof sets has been a money maker for seller, everyone likes the unknown and yes, cameos have been pulled out of sealed proof sets. (instances are getting rarer and rarer)
are 50 thru 55 in boxes? - do you have pictures? there aren't any good answers with out good information. what is written/printed on the envelopes? never opened? how do you know?
The earliest I have is a 1954 and it is in a box. the next earliest I have is a 1956 and it is in a envelope. I was also wondering if in fact they are actual proof sets and that's why I asked the question.
I won my fantasy golf league a few years ago and used some of the winnings to buy what I thought (and still think) was a good investment. I paid $1600 for an unopened US Mint box of eighty (80) 1962 Mint sets. Folks can open and reseal Mint sets, but they can't get at them if they're in an unopened US Mint box. These Mint sets haven't seen the light of day since 1962. I plan to pass them down in the family (hopefully) for another 100 years (or more!). Can you imagine what an unopened box like this will be worth in another 100 years? ...something greater than $1600 is my guess!
The envelopes have the date and a P.C. "1957 P. C." I'll have to get some pictures of them. The 54 is in a plain box, I don't see anything on it.
Yes, they are real. The United States Mint packaged Proof Sets in boxes from 1950-1955. In 1955 they also introduced the "flat pack" which is the way that your 1957 Proof Set is packaged. It is important to note that the Mint made both types in 1955 with the Flat Pack being the less common packaging. As BR549 correctly noted there is some controversy over whether or not the enveloped sets came from the Mint sealed or unsealed. I agree with his conclusion that they were sealed years later by humidity as many of these sets are commonly found with completely open envelopes that appear to have never been sealed.
can you imagine what 1600 would have bought a hundred years ago? I estimate it will buy a loaf of bread a hundred years from now just to tease y'all
Quite correct. The boxed sets would be the exception though as they were wrapped with the brown packing tape. However, that brown tape, and the boxes are quite easily obtained even today so the sets can be faked. The one thing that is hard, if not impossible, to duplicate are the cellophane coin sleeves containing the individual coins. These cellophane sleeves age and become yellowed, they also become quite brittle with age. And the staple holding them together almost always shows some signs of rust or beginning corrosion. So if you find one of these sets without the cellophane sleeves (they were often replaced with soft plastic sleeves) or appropriately aged staple then it is a certainty that the set is not original. The coins themselves may or may not be the original coins, but the packaging certainly isn't. Because of the uncertainty the value of the set is diminished.
I'll tell you what as well... I once bought an unopened 1954 set and opened it to check. The staple was black and had left an unsightly black toning on some of the coins. I think that the set was worth more before I knew the condition of the coins, butn at least i knew that the set was real.
EyeEatWheaties, You are a strong person not to open any of your proof boxes up. I don't think I could do it and would probably break down and open them all up! The temptation would be immense.
