I'm sure many of you have seen dealer ads and online auction listings for "unopened" proof sets, primarily the "flat pack" sets from 1955 - 64. I find it hard to believe that so many people would order proof sets and never open them for 40 or so years. I suspect many of these are low quality proof sets which are steamed shut in the envelopes. My question is are these "unopened" proof sets a scam, or are there really that many out there that were squirreled away and never opened?
Contrary to what you might think - there are quite a few out there that were never opened. I have known many older collectors who did this. But - you knew that but was comin didn't ya - there are certainly not enough of them to provide the quantity available on ebay and other auction sites today. The reason these "unopened" sets sell so well is because most folks like to gamble. There's just something irresistable about the chance of making a "real find". And it doesn't matter if somebody tells them that the envelopes these sets come in can be and are being manufactured today - and then re-sealed and sold as unopened sets. Why I've even seen modern manufactured pliofilm cases with circulated coins in them being sold as Mint sets and Proof sets. When it comes to the older sets - you better know what you're looking at before you buy it
I knew that the envelopes were being copied and sold as original, but was unaware that pliofilm pacs were being faked too. Thanks, GD. I learned something today. Good for me.
Unfortunately GDJMSP is correct. With the large group of new collectors entering into the hobby, the "crooks" have come out of the woodwork. If you remember the so called error card that was sent with the 2003 silver proof sets with the wrong metal content for the dime, quarter, and half, there are many reproduced cards being sold in the sets. While forgeries, and put together sets isn't a new phenomenon, it certainly has taken on a whole new life of its own in the past 5 years. Collectors need to learn as much as they can, and only deal with reputable dealers/sellers.
I would be skeptical about unopened sets also. I'm collecting proof and mint sets myself and when I go to my dealer to see what he has, usually the envelopes are not only opened, but most of them have writing on them. I only want sets in original packaging and the envelpoe itself is important to me. If it has too much scribbling on it or the cardboards are missing, I take a pass. If someone has just written "1955 proof" on it, I'll consider. But a lot of times there is someone's name or other hieroglyphic.
Well, I would at least look at the proof set with "scribbles" on them. If there is an Ultra-Cam Frankie in it, I could care less about the scribbles
