I just got my replacement set of the US Mint 2009 clad proof set and was wondering if I'm too picky or are these sets mostly imperfect? I don't expect all 70s but most of these coins wouldn't get a 65. I sent my first set back because there were a number of shiny spots in the raised frosty devices. Too many for my liking. My replacement set has at least 10x the number of shiny spots distributed among ALL the coins. The Pres and Sac being some of the better quality strikes. What I am, essentially, asking here is: Are these PROOF coins supposed to be virtually shiny spot free on these raised frosted aspects of the coin? Are these from older dies and that's what you get? I am very disappointed in this set, even more so than the one I returned at my own considerable expense. I thought the USM would refund my return postage but it seems that it doesn't do that any more either. The New Refund Policy and all that. I'd like to know your opinion of your 2009 "frosty" proof coins and if you think they are all they can be. Are you happy with them after counting the blemishes under 5x magnification? Bruce
The wash they use on the blanks .....for the last few years what ever they are using is drying like water spots on glass! It's a shame that when you buy a set of coins from the US Mint and pay what you do you don't get the quality that you would get from lets say RCM orthe RM. Once again thats why I drive a honda and not a chevy! We have screwed the pooch with our Yankee ingenuity! hya:
Personally, I never once received anything from the Mint that I wanted to return or was unhappy with. However, I know that plenty of others have. So sometimes it is best to just go to your local dealer and pick out the sets that please you.
I bought two sets. Most every coin looks as if it would grade 68 or 69. Never have returned anything to the mint. I tried to return a complete set of the 1995 and 96 Olympic Commemoratives. Thats like 24 coins if I'm thinking right. The mint would not take them back. Several calls and letters to explain I never ordered them or paid for them were of no help. They made me keep them.
.......it is indeed a shame what the mint ships out to their customers. they can and do mint beautiful coins, the problem is with the inspection personnel. how could ANYONE let flawed products make it to the customer? where is their pride? WHY isn't a foreman doing their job and policing their employees and insisting on rigorous superb quality consistently? they have become unacceptably complacent.
It would be cool to see some images of coins the mint sent out that were not right. Many folks are not happy but few ever post images to allow others to see the problem.
I've been lucky with the mint. Most of the coins from the five proof sets would rate in the high 60's with a few 70's.
dontreturnatall My one and only set is just beautiful, great,love it. you people that return your error sets, I don't understand, errors. we pay more for errors on coins. ever returned a steak and wandered what that funny taste was,wiz. same could go for returned coins, except they have a stack of worse off coins to replace with. in other words TPR. trial production run,seconds.