I recently purchased a 1957 unopened proof set (at least it looked legit) and when i opened it i found a second 1957 proof nickel in place of the quarter. I'm just an amatuer collector but not a complete dim wit. The packaging looked legit. I figured for the cost of an open set i could buy an unopen an maybe get lucky. Now i feel just down right peeved that it doesn't have a quarter in the set. It seem to be an awful lot of work to go an fake the cellophane packaging to include two nickels instead of just replacing it with average 57 proof quarter and then re-seal it. Either I got a proof set from a mean and twisted con artist or the worker at the mint that day was taping the booze a little to hard! Is there anyway to validate the cellophane wraping and does this error actually occur or am i just the unlucky sap of a good practical joke? Thanks for info you guys/gals can shed. I haven't been able to find anything on net about this subject so it makes me wonder that since there is no way to verify coins in the wrap, then it just a novelty. ...Roy
It happens with genuine sets, not very often though. The bit about unopened Proof sets - that's pretty much a marketing come on. As for verifying whether the set is genuine or a tampered with set - try to post close up pics of the pliofilm. The mint used various roller patterns when they sealed the sets depending on year. Sometimes it is possible to identify fake sets when the patterns don't match.
have to work on getting good pic. currently camera can't pick up that kind of detail. if legit, is the set worth any value or worth about same as any other '57 set?
Don't feel to awful bad. The Half dollar it the jewel and the high end of the proof set. You should be able to get real nice 57 sets all day. If your goal is to collect original sealed proofs with envelopes and COA's I agree with GDJMSP about the "unopen" marketing pitch on these proof sets. I've only ever purchased open sets and even then some times the cello has aged so much that it really hinds the beauty of the proof within. I'd keep that set as a show and tell for new collectors like yourself so that they can actually see the mint mistake or the fraud.
HI ROY In RON GUTH & BILL GALE book u.s. proofsets and mint sets they say on page 62 there should be one example each . Of the lincoln cent, jefferson nickel, roosevelt dime ,washington quarter ,and franklin half. And to beware of buying unopened 1957 proof sets "seaked" sets are likely to contain substituted coins and even non-coins
