Over the weekend, I bought a 1989 Prestige Proof set for 25$. However, the COA and Box were missing, the packaging is stained, and some of the coins have fingerprints on them. I don't feel bad about the purchase (I like the coins), but I wonder if I should have made a lower offer/counteroffer, and did I get my money's worth. What do you think?
The wonderful thing about buying these sets is that, very often, you can pick them up for much less than the original issue price. I think you have done that, however, you lack the COA which is a "must have" for most collectors of these issues. The fact that you see fingerprints on some of the coins bothers me as it is my opinion that someone has been "messin'" with this set. Very often folks will crack out "cherry" versions of coins and replace them with other more generic types. That's the down side. The "upside" is you like what you've purchased. That's a good thing...
Ditto what green said - especially the finger print part. If you look on ebay you could probably see a box and coa for a set.
Did this set come with a COA? The Mint did ot strat using COA's until 1986 on the commemorative sets, and it took a while before they were extended to all the junk they sell. Also the first few years the COA didn't bother to name what coin or set they went with, so even if it did it might be replaceable with any other generic COA. (Heck PRINT one.) Anyone have one of these sets they bought from the Mint that they can check the COA? And I agree, fingerprints on the coins means the coins may have been switched in the set. (Happens a lot with the 1990 Prestige set. I've seen a lot of 1990 Prestige no S cent sets on eBay where the set has been opened and the cent replacd with an Unc Philadelphia cent.)
The set does sell on E-bay witha COA, so I assume it comes with one. I checked that all of the proofs were "proof" before buying it, but you have a good point. Thank you to all for responding. Mintproducts has the set for 35 + shipping, so for 25 I thought it was worth the plunge.
