Jefferson Nickel in a Philly Mint Set...

So, two weeks ago, I bought a 1969 Mixed proof set (more like a special mint set) with dull and faded coins...no shine.

But normally when you get this type of set from Philly, you also get an "S" minted cent in the Philly package next to the "P" cent.

However, when I looked at each coin within the set, the Jefferson Nickel has an "S" mintmark on it, in the Philly set. Is that normal?

 

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I'm not sure...

 

The token is from a uncirculated set not a proof set. The coins in the pictures seem to have circulation wear and tear. I never heard of a mixed proof set. Special mint sets were not made in '69. Where was this purchased? How was it described?

 

Doctoring.

 

This is because it is an uncirculated (business strike) set (also known as a mint set) and the US Mint only made 1969 D and 1969 S business strike that year. They also made a 1969 S proof strike (would be in a proof set) that year.

They did not make 1969 P Jefferson Nickels.

The discoloration/cloudiness you see is a reaction between the metal of the coins and the cellophane mint packaging. It's very common (unfortunately.)

 

That's right! how could I forget...

 

It's a motley set.

The make up of the 1969 Mint Set was 3 Lincoln Cents (P, D, S), 2 Jefferson Nickels (D, S), 2 Roosevelt Dimes (P, D), 2 Washington Quarters (P, D), and 1 Kennedy Half Dollar (D).

Maybe it's just your photos but some of those coins look circulated, like someone refilled the cello with pocket change. It's probably just fuzzy pictures..

 

Its not uncommon to buy a mint set that has wrong coins in the set...I had a 1999 & 2000 that came with the state quarters both sets had two wrong coins in them. However there's no premium factor on these not considered an error...more like a mint mistake.

 

Based on the photo, I disagree.

 

Sorry about that, I hit the wrong keys again, and imbedded my reply in your posts, as if you posted what I said. My apologies.

My only excuse is I am old.

 

It is not that there are wrong coins, in my opinion. it is that there are coins that should not be in that condition and described as uncirculated. I will stay pat that the envelope was doctored. I have seen enough to convince me, whether or not I convince anyone else.

 

I tried to convey this in my my first post here. The 9, the rim, and IGWT make the quarter look like one notch above road rash. The OP has not responded to my comments.
In the past other knowledgable people here have commented that cellophane mint sets have been repackaged.

 

The answer to your question is "yes, it's normal". The blue pack should have a "P" quarter, dime, and cent, plus a "S" cent and nickel. Your picture shows you have all of these.

However, as pointed out up-thread, they don't look to be uncirculated.

 

Yes, and concur.

 

It's completely normal. I'm guessing the Denver package is a little brighter but has the same issues.

You can no longer find these coins in pocket change except with great effort and then the coins will be very low grade and gouged, scratched, and mutilated. This is what the few surviving mint sets look like.

People have ignored these coins too long and they're gone.

The good news is many of these coins left in the sets can still be saved by soaking them in acetone. Up to half of some are salvageable.

There's no demand for the coins so it's not noticed there is no supply.

 

I do not concur.

Yes, when long ago doctored.

Again, I do not concur. There are many at various shows. there are many in collector hands. The better condition pieces were saved long ago.

I don't know why it is necessarily good news, to save/salvage/doctor less than quality uncirculated pieces.

I am a great admirer for years, of your work and interest n Moderns, and often opine same, as you may recall.

I just think this particular time, and based on the photo, I can't see common ground.

 

I see an environmental challenged set. If the sets were stored in a moist rich environment they can look this way.
Here are a few coins from a 70 UC set.

 

I see some strange things in this set as well but experience tells me they are all photographic effects. I've never seen a fake or doctored mint set of any clad date set and '69 is one of the last that would be messed with.

Of course there are still nearly half a million around but a lot of them look worse than this and even the best will have four or five coins with problems.

It's far harder to find the coins in circulation than in the set. There's just no point in creating sets nobody wants.

 

There is no wholesale market for most of these coins because there is simply no demand. If current trends continue the '69 quarter will be scarcer than the '32-D in as soon as 20 years because the the coins aren't being put back or saved from corrosion that exists in the mint sets. The coins in circulation now suffer a nearly 5% annual attrition as bent, damaged, and heavily worn coins are removed from circulation by the FED. There will be no nice (G or better) '69 quarters in circulation in less than 10 years.

Eventually people will want these coins and attrition will drop to far lower levels but in my opinion it's already too late because there are not enough nice examples in F or better for a mass market. The few around would disappear overnight with any real demand.

It just breaks my heart to see the mint sets like this. Not only because of all the coins I've lost but because they will not be available to future collectors.

it also distorts the current market making it difficult to know if demand picks up or not because good sets are so hard to find (virtually impossible really). i saved up 20 of the greatest '69 mint sets you can imagine and had to cut them all up in the last twenty years. Many of the Gems were lost to the corrosion.

of course I can be wrong about this set and a cleaning and better pictures might well prove it.

 

I'm having a hard time with this set. I keep looking at the date particularly the 9 on the quarter. Photography? I asked the OP for clarity. Perhaps we will get a response this evening?