Proof set 1942,52,53,55

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I'd rather be a 'Doubting Thomas' and know that there is a very real possibility that what I have might not be real than assume (especially if I had no prior knowledge about coins) that it is 100% authentic, only to be let down when a dealer or professional tells me I am wrong, or worse yet, sell them to another unsuspecting person just because I assumed it was real, thereby perpetuating the falsehood.

But hey, to each his own...

Also, no one here is saying that the coins aren't real coins, just that there is a good chance that those are just normal, mint-state coins that have been put into a holder that says they are proof. Anyone can do that. I can do that in a heartbeat. It's not hard, and it's been done before.

 

SOLD!!
Sold to a coin dealer in K.C.
Thanks for all your help with setting a value.

 

I'm glad for you! One quick question. Did the dealer say anything about half dollar in the 1942 set? It was either a business strike or just a proof that had alot of haze on the coin....it would be interesting to know for sure what it was.

Thanks

Speedy

 

Speedy:

Not to claim any real knowledge at all, but on many of the early 20th century proof coins (pre-1937) that I have had priviledge to see, at first glance they don't have many of the qualities that we normally associate with proof coins. Since they were sold individually rather than in a set or case, many are impaired and truthfully wouldn't be assumed proof coins by inexperienced collectors. The edges, and depth of strike can sometimes be a the true tell-tale signs with these coins as a brilliant finish either may or may not have ever graced the coin (some were mattes before 1937) and proper storage may not have been the rule of the day for owners of the coins.

Although the 1942 proof coins were all done with a brilliant finish, I think storage of these coins at that point in time make it impossible to discern proof or not from first glance.

 

Good point Mike
I do partly disagree with one point---and that is that the mint did sell these coins as sets. I think when we really get down to looking they sold them both as sets and individually. This could be the reason they look funny.
Now that you said something about storage it makes me wonder if these were stored in something such as a bank box. I would think that something like that could cause haze.

Speedy