Newbie ... Found 1981 Clear 'S' Proof set?

I'm new here, so please bear with me if I'm doing this wrong. In the process of cataloguing and looking up in the REd Book for a bunch of proofs, etc., given to me, I ran across one possible good find. Red Book stated that the "clear 'S'" Proof set from 1981 was $400, so I got out my good magnifier and it looks to me as if all six coins are the "clear 's'", rounded type 1, shown in the 2009 book on page 225. Here are pictures. Good as I could get them.

Can anyone give me guidance on this?

,,,
,,,


Any help is appreciated!

And one other (multiple) question. When I get the list done, in an Excel sheet, how do I post it? Should it be just text? Do I need photos?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

These do not look like the Type 2 to me. The type 2 will have a more flatter top than the pointed top that you are showing. These are different from the 79 set as they are clear S also but are more balanced from top to base.

 

Thanks guys for the info. Do you all concur that this is a clear 'S' set, whether Type 1 or Type 2? (I know, the pix are not perfect ...)

If it is, what is is "really" worth ... usually?

Thanks -- Bill

 

The set is "clear s" but that is a misnomer because ALL 81 proof sets are clear S. If Doug is right about the cent being T2 and the SBA being T1 then the set is worth about $20-$30. The vast majority of the value in these sets is the SBA. If she is a T2 then the set is worth a couple hundred dollars. BTW, I can't tell, i alwys ask our resident expert at work when I have one cross my desk.

 

Most if not all 1981s proof sets were "Either" type1 or type2. By the pics shown, you have a type1 set. If you look closely at the S mintmarks, the type1 will have a little 35degree angle at the back of the bottom serif of the S. The type2's are not like this. Many people mistake these types on 1981s sets due to most all of them being a Clear S and they think this is the determination between the sets, not so. The difference is the design of the S. If you look at the pic above, you will see that the S is uniformed from the top to bottom on the type2. The type1's usually are wider at the field and come to a point at the top of MM and also have that 35degree angle at the end of the S. The type2's are almost the same size from top to bottom and mostly unifromed in shape from end to end.

 

Yep what he said ..

 

Newbie...............................

http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/1979SAnd1981STypes.htm

 

Grizz -- Thanks for that link -- it explained perfectly what I seem to have -- a Type 1 set.

Is there an opinion you/anyone would venture as to value?

Thanks again -- Bill

 

you can check past auction results such as e-bay for a close value.

steve

 

Keep in mind that there is a substantial premium for the set only if all the coins are type 2. The dollar and cent have a premium by themselves but the other coins bring little premium because of low demand.

 

Since all the coins in this set are actually Type 1, does that mean it is worth less than what the Red Book says? (The book says $400, but I know the market is the final arbiter.)

 

This is the more common type 1 set not the scarce $400 version.

 

My friend, as stated before, You have the type 1 set. Common set!!!

 

Well, okay, I'll take your word for it. The Red Book, the way I was reading it, doesn't make a distinction: The only value for any kind of "clear S" set is $400., and the "clear S" shown in the book includes both the type 1 and the type 2 "S". So, I was misled by a generalization, I guess.

Thanks for the help anyway.

 

Here's a good price value guide if you'd like to take a look. the type1 set is valued at $10 and the type2 is at $375.
http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/fmv.shtml

 

Also you are still referring to the common mistake as designating these sets as Clear S. They are all clear S in the 81' proof sets. It's just the "S's" have a different design to them. The 79' proof set had blobbed "S's" and a clear S set. This was the difference between them. Until you are able to see the differences in the examples posted in this thread, you are going to stay confused with what you actually have, which is a type 1 set.

 

The Red Book makes the distinction, but they just don't label them well. What the Red Book calls "First S" is type 1, and what they call "Clear S" is type 2. I just wanted to clarify, since it sounds like you're thinking there's are type 1 and type 2 versions of the $400 set in the Red Book, which there are not. The $400 one is just the type 2. What you have is what the Red Book calls "First S," more commonly known as type 1.

Kris

 

Yep -- you are right. In my beginner excitement, I missed the "First S" vs "Clear S" distinctionin the Red Book. Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa. Thanks for your patience, guys.