I am considering purchasing a 1950 unopened proof set. I have read and heard that the plastic the coin is in may cause damage to the coin. Is this a realistic concern? Any other dangers? The set is quite expensive and I do not want to throw any money down the drain.
If you aren't really familiar with these sets, I hope you know and trust the seller. Otherwise I wouldn't recommend buying it. It's too easy to get ripped off.
I know the staple they use - rusts and spread to the coins. My 1954 did. Also alot of toneing to the coins. Maybe not being open this might not have happened. If you decide to buy - let us know what the coins look like.
I thank you for the inputs. The first seller I found at ebay with a high recomendation. I later found another seller for almost one half the price of the first seller for the same item. That is too much price differential for me and something seems amiss. The second seller at almost one half the price I found at US Coin but I think it is a ebay referal. I never thought about the staple but that is certainly a concern. Back to plan "A" for me, continue collecting to complete a set of PCGS or NGC high grade proof coins of that year.
I agree with edduns, the staple is the fly in the ointment, so to speak. It's mere presence has been responsible for more unattrative toning on 1950s proof sets that grimy fingers, IMHO. What my experience has taught me is this... If you are looking for a 1950 proof set for your collection, and you buy an unopened one, leave it that way as it will likely be badly toned and worth more unopened as a speculative venture than as a certain "toned" proof set. If you want to complete a set that is TPG slabbed and graded, my advice is to buy them slabbed and graded. My speculations have never been rewarded, but out there somewhere are people who would say the opposite, so I tend to keep sealed sets sealed and leave the value that I saw in them at first glance for the next guy. Just my 2¢,
While these early '50s Proof sets actually could be sealed by the mint, one also needs to keep in mind that replacing the brown paper tape around the cardboard box is certainly easy to do. And understanding that, how would you know that you were actually getting a 1950 Proof set without opening the box to look at the coins ? The boxes aren't marked. So even if did buy a sealed one, and then later sold it. But the person you sold it to opened it, and the coins were not 1950 Proofs - guess who would be responsible ? Best rule - never buy sealed Proof sets - period !
