My 2011 Silver Proof set arrived this afternoon. Upon opening the set I saw Andrew Johnson's face looks like something was splashed across his face, and Grant looks like it was stamped from a different blend of metals from the rest of the President. Frankly, I'm getting very upset with having to return almost every set that I receive from the Mint due to what I consider poor quality. Should I return this set to the Mint? I hesitate because it will cost me $5 Parcel post to return these four coins. The Mint should pay return postage if the it is due to the Mints lack of Quality Control. Thanks
I had the same problem awhile ago, except I was luckily able to mix and match from different sets because I was at the Denver Mint gift shop. It was really annoying how one set after the other, there was some sort of problem with the coins inside.
I would return it - whenever you look at this set in the future, your eye will always be drawn to the imperfections and completely ruin your enjoyment of it. I've read online that if you call the Mint's support line after receiving the exchanged items that they'll refund your postage, but having never done this personally I don't know if it's accurate.
I would keep it!! A couple of years ago (2009), someone on CT complained about a substandard proof set they received. They were going to return it until I made a few comments and offered to trade him a nice set for the one he had...an offer I'm glad to extend to you (postage paid). The Johnson coin you have looks pretty crappy, but the Grant coin is intriguing. Here's the "stock" photo I used for comparison in the 2009 post... The frosting on half of the upper flower was missing on the OPs coin. There was a big change to the method the Mint uses to create the frosted devices on Proof coins...beginning in 2004 (sparingly) and (in general) by 2006. Prior to 2004-2006, the frosted devices were made by sandblasting the devices. Frosting is now produced with a... ...Laser! Laser frosting errors are brand new and I haven't seen very many. Coin World has shown a few, but not many. So, what does laser frosting have to do with your coins? ...nothing really. The point is that "if" your proof Grant coin is pure copper, only (missing the manganese-brass outer coating), that could be a significant error. Maybe not, but I would check it out first. EDIT: I found the post...of the laser error. http://www.cointalk.com/t69578/
If it bothers you that much, and the silver end of the set is good, keep the set and pick up a set of proof Presidential dollars rather than send the whole thing back.
My advice as well since, from what I read, it appears that you were going to send "just" the presidential lens back. You cant do that. You have to either send the entire set or keep the entire set. These 4 coin Presidential Proof Sets will be available in the after market in a year or so at less than half of the $19.95 +$4.95 shipping that the US Mint would charges today.
I have 22 (more than one per year) other Silver Proof sets that are also fine, but in the last 12-18 mos. almost EVERYTHING I have received from the Mint has had to be returned because it was damaged in some way. The damage that I'm referring to has been obvious to the naked eye. As a result of the consistent poor results I have been forced to purchasing NGC graded coins. This way I know that I'm getting an undamaged coin. The 2011 Silver Proof set has been available for so long that I incorrectly assumed that the Mint would be shipping undamaged product. It is very sad when the Mint's Customers, like me, have a low regard for the quality of the Mint's products. The Mint doesn't really seem to care.
It is a really bad assumption to assume that time will correct issues with annual sets. It is almost always the other way around. People buy the sets and return them to the mint if they find issues. The mint will then determine if the issues seem to great and resell them to the next live one. Thus, my reason for purchasing sets near the offering date. I tend to get good coins/sets most of the time. If the silver looks good in the set, I would stay with it. Heck, you have to pay for shipping to return it anyway. The presidential dollars are barely worth the shipping charge!
B - I - N - G - O - ! I think some folks would truely be surprised at the number of coin dealers who order Mint and Proof Sets by the Hundreds on their respective release dates. If there is a report of something different or special with the set, then some collectors even jump in.
