“Unopened” US proof sets

I started buying these unopened proof sets (if they really are unopened) but I’m losing interest in putting a set together. Would you open these to check for cameo/dcam coins or just keep as is?

 

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If you plan to sell them, open them. The buyer will!

 

The mint only sealed the envelope if it was addressed and postage affixed.
Bulk sales were put into a shipping box unsealed.
Yours were sealed after a search and you are most likely not going to find anything worth a premium.
Open them up.

 

Kind of what I figured

 

It is a rare occasion that you might find something worthwhile.
I bought some 1964 sets from a CT member and got lucky when
I found a 64 Kennedy accented hair variety.

 

There is another possibility, if the envelopes were stored in humid conditions over the years, the sticky part of the flap, could stick to the envelope, however, the flap could be unstuck, easily, without tearing the envelope, as a rule.

 

If you open them post pictures I want to see them!

 

Yes, please post pictures. We are all visual learners.

 

Why would anyone buy a proof set and never open the envelope for 50 years?

 

They died 50 years ago and their heirs had no interest? I picked up a few first day covers for the state quarters at really good prices. They were still in the original envelopes and as I knew what they were like I left them that way. My heirs may find them still that way in 30 years.

 

I'll go as far as to say that the bottom right set has an envelope that was probably printed very recently. Just my opinion. I own a few proof sets I bought "unopened".... only to find dealer "for sale" stickers on the inside plastic packaging.

 

I did end up opening them. None were cameo and one of the franklins had a pretty good carbon spot. Other then that, the coins have held up very well. The dime that came with the ugly Franklin has some nice color. I’ll take some pictures and try to post them tomorrow

 

I would have said sell them unopened, a lot of buyers will pay premium money to buy a pig in a poke.

 

I considered it but my curiosity trumped the profits I would have gotten. I’m happy with them

 

historical interest archive??

I have some that are not sealed, that I got long ago when I was young and they were just "neat". I still have them. Haven't looked at them in ages as I'm really a Half and higher collector. I know nothing of the smaller denominations. Maybe I'll rummage them out and give some pics too.

 

I don't believe there are many unopened sets available these days unless someone you know was the original buyer. I would never leave my coins in the celophane because it can hairline your coins over time. There are many problems with these sets...counterfeit, hairline, milk spot, mis-handling are only a few to mention. Until about 20 years ago, you could still buy premium unopened sets, but now they have been mostly picked over many times for the best cherrypicks. You can still get lucky and find nicer coins in original sets, but that's almost like winning at the casino...not that often.

 

Many dealers on the platforms are paying premiums of around 20% over bid for unopened sets.

 

It happens, there are a lot of people right now that buy up things offered by the mint and keep them in unopened mint shipping boxes.

 

i purchased 17 proof sets ranging1957-1964 i opened
them nothing noteworthy but a few milk spots on the 1957 franklins how can they be safely removed ???
also would it be better to remove the coins to 2x2 flips or keep them in mint package???? i bought them
average $17 per set

 

Milk spots cannot be removed as they are soap residue struck in to the coin at over 200 tons of pressure. Coins stored in celophane are prone to hairlines from handling of the sets. You can't really grade a coin properly thru the celo. so I carefully cut them out and cherrypick them for possible 67s or better. Cameos are a rare find because of years of cherrypicking.