i just received my Pride of Two Nations set and it reinforces my preference to leave modern US Mint coins in their original government packaging. Slabs are great for older raw coins but I must say that I prefer the mint packaging, especially for special sets.
Some of the mint packaging looks nice, some not so much. But many people have reported that leaving coins in mint packaging (especially the non-airtight capsules for silver dollar and clad half sets) can cause them to tone more quickly and less attractively.
Valid point but I have not experienced that yet. In fact some silver proof sets I bought from a collector on the left coast have some very attractive light toning.
