I have these United States Special Mint Set's I was wondering if you shoult take them out of their holder (not that i am planning to do that, i should be crazy if i did) and send them to something like PCSG at what grade would they come back? Unc, BU, ...?
It depends. If you purchased them back in the 1960s and preserved them well, you might have a shot at a high grade. Post some pics. If you purchased in the secondary market, many of these sets have already been cherry-picked so better to just leave them put as they would likely grade between 60-63, maybe 64 if lucky. Be sure to check your 1966 Kennedy halves for varieties though, as some bring good money even in lower grades. TC
Koen, If those are the 65-67 SMS sets that I gave you, don't spend the money to have them graded. They will probably grade in the 64-66 range. Also, I don't believe there are any DDO's in the bunch. Chris
i am not planning to get them graded They stay in the holders they are in (the mintsetholders) I was just wondering how they would grade if you would have them seperatly.
They can go all the was from no grade if the colors happen to be funky to as high as SP68DCAM. There was a larger variance in the quality of the sets during those years. And nature has had almost fifty years to affect them.
Glad to see some recognized the fact that they could have no grade - even if you got them shipped from the mint yesterday.
These coins are best kept in their original packaging as well. The only time I broke them apart was when I had multiple sets to put together individual Kennedy, Quarter, Dime and Nickel sets in albums.
These are fun sets to collect. These sets were struck on highly polished circulation dies, causing kennedy's hair to lose some detail and detail on other coins and the such. Though grading is always in the ballpark. My 67 SMS has a brutally ugly half dollar that I would give a 64 on a good day. Bad eye appeal and I am almost tempted on taking it out. Gotta get myself a nicer 67 SMS to complete the set. I might also buy myself a new 65 SMS because I am planning on taking my 65 SMS half dollar out and getting it graded with the "Cameo" designation.
I have broken up several hundred mint sets over the years (not too many of the SMS sets) and in many cases only found one coin in the set worth submitting. Carbon spots, finger prints, gashes, reeding marks, hits on high visibly ares, and just ugly toning all say no way submit.
For the record, the 1966 and 1967 SMS Sets were not sealed closed and opening them is a very simply task. As such, long term storage in the wrong environment could produce haze and nasty looking toning. Stored correctly, the coins could last indefinitely since both the outer shell and the shell which holds the coins is made of inert plastic. Too bad they didn't used the same cardboard which was used on Mint Sets from the 50's. If they had, there'd be some really nice SMS Toners out there.
Keep breaking them up! Eventually intact sets will start going back up in value. All jokes aside, just wondering if anyone thinks the 1987 mint sets will ever begin to climb. I know they had a relatively high mintage, but I also know that lots of them were divided for the Kennedy halves. Any opinions or input would be appreciated.
I like the 1996 Mint set with the W dime. Many that are left no longer have the dime, or the remaining coins were just simply spent at face. TC
Sorry but that phase passed when I retired my 1968 to present registry mint set in 2009. Sold all but the halves and dollars since them and most of the dollars are gone now only kept the Sac/Native Americans. Oh and selling the extra sets let me know that dealers are making a killing on then when you buy at the shop.
I'm of the opinion that Modern Mint Sets will never see any type of dramatic or even gradual price increase. What I mean by that is that modern mint set packaging is nothing more than a paper envelope which holds coins sealed in plastic and possibly a cardboard stiffener. If they were stored in some medium which encouraged or even enabled toning, then possibly. If they were mailed out in fancy presentation boxes with velveteen liners then possibly. But since neither of the above occured, theres simply no reason for these to increase in value in either my lifetime, your lifetime or your childrens childrens lifetimes.
