I have a 2006 Unc Mint Set and the Half in it looks suspiciously unlike a satin finish. (PS attached photographs.) The surfaces of the planchet have random marks uniformly distributed over both the Ob and Rev. The surface finish is also of poor quality. Any comments? The same set has, what appears to be, a die clash Nebraska 1/4. The GW pony tail features show up on the Rev (left of the chimney) . Again any comments?
I just got my UNC. sets when I ordered my Wash Dolls- D rolls. I have not opened them yet. When I do if Isee anything I will post.
It is not uncommon for the quality of the satin finish to leave a lot to be desired. On some coins, the satin finish is hardly there at all, on others it is quite prominent. As for the die clash, maybe.
Ever since the mint began using the satin finish it has been very inconsistant. For awhile in 2005 the TPG's would only grade a coin as Satin if it was submitted in the unopened pliofilm. Even after they droppe that requirement it was often a gamble whether or not coins submitted from mint sets would be labels satin. To add to the confusion a great many circulation strike coins were showing up with better satin finishes than the mint set coins. If fact since a NON-satin finish business strike in top grade will bring a lot more money than a satin finish in the same grade, it is a bit of a cherrypicking thing to search mint sets for top condition pieces that have a poor satin finish and submit them out of the plastic in hopes of getting them slabbed as business strikes and not satin finish mint set coins. Kind of the reverse of the proof sets. With Proofs you look for the ones with the special cameo finish, and with the mint sets you look for the ones without the special finish.
Thanks for the info. It's a bit surprising, and disappointing that the some of the mint-set satin finish coins which I have are in pretty poor shape. Example, one Sac dollar has deep gouges in it and a promiment mark right on the forehead. The breast of the eagle also has deep scratches. Should I be purchasing these sets as early as possible to get good quality coins and sets?
