I have 2 girls neither of them are into coins but I’ve been purchasing a few coins for them from the U.S. Mint either as gifts or as an investment (if they should increase in value) to be given to them shortly before or after I’m gone. These include the American Eagle Silver Proof Coin, United States Mint Silver Proof Set, American Eagle Gold Proof Coin, and the Five Ounce Silver Yellowstone National Park Coin. Other than the first two coins that I ordered I have not opened any other of the boxes from the mint. So………..my question is. Is it really worth it to not open the boxes for maybe the next 20 years. Will the coins be worth more should they decide to sell them if the boxes are unopened?
Duwammer, Opening the brown boxes your shipment from the Mint is in, won't affect the value of any of the coins inside . What will affect the re-sale value, is say you loose or destroy the actual item mint packaging or cert. Of authenticity paperwork such as:
Duwammer: Welcome to CT! :welcome: I also have two young children that are not that interested in coins. I am collecting what I like and enjoy, and like you will pass my collection on to them as well. Many will tell you that coins are not a good investment though. I also have 529 plans going for each of them as well. Regardless of whether or not they want the coins, at least they will have a good education. By the way, I open all my US Mint products so that I can enjoy them and because I do not collect unopened boxes. TC
Unopened boxes bring a small premium. But, you'd wise to open them, look at a few of each, and pick the highest grades, as some high grades bring significant premiums. Then you can enjoy them and if need be, conserve them over the years.
I always open my boxes to check for defective coins. I don't however break the hard plastic packaging.
I usually open the boxes but have made a few exceptions. I will say that the proof set boxes are very easy to damage when you open them. Thus, you need to be very delicate during the opening ceremony.
IMHO, not opening the boxes would add little premium in the future as the ONLY premium associated with an unopened package of the coin types you mentioned would be if they were First Strike eligible. But in all honesty first Strike might not be around by the time the girls receive the packages. For the Proof Sets, the only value in having an unopened shipping box would be if some type of error or variety was common to that particular year. If that were the case then a collector "might" put forawrd a premium for the set. 1992 Silver Proofs sets in unopened shipping boxes get a premium due to the Doubled Die Kennedy but I haven't heard of anything for Silver Proof Sets other than the DDR-001 and DDR-002 Formative Years Lincolns. Those "might" be popular when the girls get the packages or probably not. The downside to NOT opening packages from the mint is that it is possible to have received damaged coins or coins that were packaged with bits of organic material in the cases. When this happens, it will leave ugly unchecked spots. Silver Eagles on the other hand, are known for developing milk spots which totally destroys any high grade. Over all, for the coins you've mentioned, I just do not believe that any premium would be associated with leaving them in the original shipping boxes. Besides, after 5 or 10 years, you might get tired of storing them since they do take up a significant amount of space.
Thanks for your opinions. Both my girls are already through college so saving for that is over. I've got tons of stuff for hunting and fishing also and neither of them ever got into that with me either. I do have a 1 year old granddaughter that adores my mounts, I keep telling her mother that Emrey wants them when I'm gone. But I'm not sure she's biting on that yet. In all reality for all I know they will have a big sale and take the cash. As for the coins, they're locked up in the safe.And yes they do take up a lot of space when not opened. Thanks again Dwayne
