Latest Commemorative set, higher prices, cheap packaging defective coins

I just received the three piece Negro Leagues Baseball set. I was very disappointed.

In the old days, these sets came in a nice velvet covered holder. Now it's in cheap cardboard.

The biggest disappointment was quality of the coins. The half dollar had die polishing marks in the left field. You can see a hint of them in this photo of both sides.



Here at the die polish marks when the coin is viewed at an angle.



The $5 gold coin had struck-though marks and scratches on the revere. My photo makes them look worse than when you see the coin in person, but the struck-though in the center is visible with the naked eye.



I guess the time has come to stop buying mint products. All they do is raise the prices and put out shoddy work. The last Mint Director, who recently resigned was "collector hostile and flipper friendly." I have not cluttered my mind with his name because remembering it would be counterproductive. Maybe the next guy will do better, but if these coins are any indicator, he has a lot of improving to do.

 

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Aren't those lines in the left field a design element? I see them in the illustrations on the Mint's site:

 

+1, I think it is part of the design

 

Okay, then that means only the $5 gold is defective.

 

Send it back for a replacement.

 

It's going back tomorrow, but I will still have to pay to return it.

 

Maybe they're planchet stria.

 

Don't know if the policy has changed, but circa 2014 when I complained about defects on the coins I received, they refunded my return shipping charges.

Actually, I do suppose the policy has changed somewhat, because they made an announcement around or after that time that they would cut off buyers who they thought were abusing the return privilege. I haven't had to do a defective return since then, so I don't know if the shipping refund policy is still in place.

 

If they came as a set you will have to return the whole set.

 

John

Please don't think I'm disparaging your choices on where to spend your numismatic dollar, but these modern designs leave a lot to be desired. In my opinion we collectors need to vote with our dollars (or lack therof) and stop buying this CR** from the mint until they improve the quality. Thanks.

 

THAT was certainly true at the time I was doing returns.

 

To avoid returns don't buy. I stopped mint buying two years ago and it hasn't hurt my collective feelings. Good luck.

 

I know how good the packaging used to be as recently as the 2013 ASE sets, maybe even later. The 2011 5 coin ASE set came in a super nice, thick varnished, hard case, with stand up magnetic base box inside and velvet. That whole package was $300 shipped for the 5 ASEs and that packaging.

Nowadays, I've noticed nothing comes in the nice velvet boxes anymore, EXCEPT for medals. If you buy a presidential medal or one of the military 2.5 oz medals, you get a nice velvet clamshell again in a box. Anything else, cardboard.

 

As they should be given how much of the packing gets thrown away

 

Someone shouldnt need to know the design to know if theyre die polishing marks or intentional

 

I guess I was fortunate because my Negro Leagues silver dollar looks to be close to perfect (naked eye and 10X magnification). I purchased that coin to go with my other baseball coins, plus it's a 100 yr anniv commem. I am disappointed in the cheap packaging.

 

A lot has changed at the Mint. It is now geared toward the businesses that deal in selling coins. Their packaging is shoddy, cheap cardboard, no velvet for the more expensive coins such as the American Eagles. The previous Secretary put in policies that hurt the collectors.

 

Send them back. Tell them not to return hand offs either

 

John I enjoy you. I thought these were a SUPER mint offering. I bleed pine tar. These coins were a wonderful selection on your part.

 

I stopped buying during the bicentennial.

Since 1964 most of the mint's stuff is way overpriced.