You have to make sure you are talking about the same thing here. The PROOF sets have not been sealed since 1999 and can be opened and closed easily without evidence. BiggieJ was talking about MINT sets and they ARE still sealed.
What is the point of making an unsealed plastic holder , they are making it really easy for the coin swappers to tamper with every plastic holder they wish to , I'am wondering if the Mint has many complaints on this matter or if the general Public even knows they are unsealed
Maybe it costs more to seal 'em? Frankly I don't know. I do know this. I wish they'd make the uncirculated sets easier to open. I always have a devil of a time with 'em....:smile
Sorry Pappy. I was just commenting on how "easy" it is to open the Proof sets as opposed to opening the uncirculated sets. Totally different manner of packaging.
That was why back in 1999 there was a real rash of "error" proof sets being sold on eBay for big bucks that were all missing one of the state quarters and having a duplicate of one of the others. Take five 1999 proof sets, open, move quarters around, close. Presto five regular $25 proof sets become five rare error proof sets that sold for $270 apiece. Then in 2000 the extremely rare ten piece 1999 proof sets made their appearance witht he story about how at the end of the year a very small number of special VIP 10 piece 1999 proof sets were made. Take 2000 proof set, open, replace 2000 coins with 1999 coins plus the 1999P proof SBA that was only sold separately, close and put into a 1999 proof set box. $30 in 1999 coins becomes the extremely rae VIP set and sells for $1000. After 2001 the scam was take 2001 silver proof set and 2001 clad quarter lens from clad proof set, open, replace silver quarters with clad quarters, close. Sell 2001 ten piece silver proof set, and 2001 silver quarter proof sets. (This scam can still take place today with any silver proof set and has been known to happen. If you buy any silver set after 1998 it is a good idea to do a tissue test on it to make sure the silver coins have not been switched for clad. The tissue test is good because it is fast, easy, definitive, and you don't have to open the set to do it.) Some people also use the easy open sets to cherry pick the mint. Order a bunch of sets, open them, cherrypick the possible 70's out of each set, reassemble the dogs into as many complete sets as possible and return for refund.
I've learned to stick to the mint for just these reasons , even now with the 2009 proof sets I reading folks returning them because of coin issues:crying: Just its safest to order when they come out and get all right away, geeezz I'd hate to get returns that were sent back to the mint, no way:bigeyes:
i only buy my proof sets from the mint now. luckily all the ones i have gotten have all been perfect.
I wait till there are several items I need and order all at one time. They may not ship together but I only pay the $4.95 shipping once.
But since you can't buy previous years sets from the mint it is a good thing to know the different scams and how they worked.
I've learned when buying from the mint to order early & order the qty. you want right away , this year I ordered the Lincoln dollar when it first come out & then waited to ordered more, big mistake, they sold out early, I won't make that mistake again
I would defintely go with the mint. Regardless of what happens with the value of the coins they don't cost an arm and a leg in the first place and you are assured of getting the real deal. With Ebay nothing is assured. There are just too many dirty players on that site and if you don't know who they are then nothing is guaranteed.