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CONECA (pronounced: CŌ´NECA) is a national numismatic organization devoted to the education of error and variety coin collectors. CONECA focuses on many error and variety specialties, including doubled dies, Repunched mintmarks, multiple errors, clips, double strikes, off-metals and off-centers—just to name a few. In addition to its website, CONECA publishes an educational journal, The Errorscope, which is printed and mailed to members bimonthly. CONECA offers a lending library, examination, listing and attribution services; it holds annual meetings at major conventions (referred to as Errorama) around the country.

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Proof Perfection

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  • #1

    Proof Perfection

    I received my first proof set and need to ask how perfect are they supposed to be? What would bring down the value of a proof set? How do you store them?

    The first thing I noticed when I opened the package from the mint was how the Sacagewea dollar and Kennedy half dollar were tilted and not set straight. Then I realized that they were misaligned dies at about approximately 20-30 degrees. Certainly not enough misalignment to add value but is it enough to lessen its value? Some of the other disappointments were with the quarters. Paper filings and plastic from the center of the paper coin holder were on the edges of quarters. The plastic holders were milky white in some areas making it difficult to see the edging of the coin. What was visible was the reeding of some of the coins where it was more than likely pressed into the container causing the plastic to cloud. The Washington quarter had two areas of the surface missing and a couple of long cracks of the silver. There were other surface marking on other coins as well. (nothing that would add any value). So I wonder if my expectations for the condition of my proof coins was too great or did I just get some that are acceptable according to mint standards but will never get a high grade? One more question, do you keep your proofs (including the Silver American Eagle) in the containers they came in or do store them in something else? I thought hte puspose of ordering the sets from the mint was to be able to store them the way they came but someone told me I should remove them. What do you all do?

    Linda
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  • #2
    Hi Linda - I guess that is one of the downfalls of getting stuff directly from the mint; it is actually sight unseen. If I were inclined to buy Mint Proof sets, I think that it would be better to buy from a dealer. At least this way you do have the ability to pick and choose

    Of course on the other hand, there is a remote possibility that an error coin can be included with a direct buy from the MINT, which is even more unlikely to be found if you are dealing with a third party. So both ways have their advantages and dis-advantages.

    As to storage; I collect only proof Lincoln's and they are put up in a Dansco album.

    Sorry that I could not offer you any more help than this.

    BJ Neff
    Member of: ANA, CCC, CONECA, Fly-in-club, FUN, NLG & T.E.V.E.C.

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    • #3
      If bought from the US Mint, they do allow returns. In fact, the packing slip that comes with the coins includes a label for returning some or all of the items received.

      The mint does a volume business -- and the quality does vary. I recieved one batch of 50 nickel sets a few years ago and returned 37 of them because of a flaw in a proof that made the coin look like it was scratched. It must have been in the die because it was exactly the same on all of them.

      I've also received proof sets from the mint that had cracked cases, scratches (sometimes even on a coin), dirt, foggy proofs, and fingerprints. I don't expect perfection - so I don't return everything that has flaws. But if I'm really not happy with an item, I return it for a replacement. Yes - you lose out on the S/H costs to return the item, but that is better than keeping something you are not happy with.

      Things like having the coins not fully seated in the holder - or being slighly rotated - or the occational plastic shaving I consider acceptable problems. It is when the actual coins have obvous defects that I am inclined to return the items to the mint.

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      • #4
        Perfect Proofs

        Hi Linda,

        I have had good luck and bad luck with the US mint.
        The last time I ordered three 2007 silver proof sets there were so many spots and scratches I thought I had gotten all the rejects in one fell swoop.

        The problem I had when I tried to return them was I had waited too long before searching them and discovering the problems that it went past the length of days the mint allows for returning. Not only that, but they said I had to send the entire order back to receive replacements. This was definitely news to me, and I am not sure they were being honest or sarcastic.

        When they returned the coins I had sent for replacements the box they used was not taped shut securely, and there was no packing material so the sets were just banging around in the box. At that time I decided to quit ordering from them directly and canceled all my subscriptions with the mint.

        I know this isn't the solution about which you were querying, but I thought you may want to know that others have had trouble with the process.

        jeankay

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        • #5
          Mint Proofs

          Hi Linda,
          When I order Silver Proof Sets from the US Mint, I expect perfection in each coin. No scratches, no dings, no spots, no nothing that isn't suppose to be there. I do not worry about the way the coins are set in the plastic as long as they are not harmed.
          As for the return policy, if you don't get on it immediately... I waited too long to inspect my sets... and you don't return the entire order... they won't (at least this is what they said in their note)... replace anything.
          So, maybe it is wise to get my sets from a dealer so I can inspect before I buy.

          As far as sets being kept in the same container, I wouldn't think of removing a Silver Eagle from it's capsule. I also keep my other sets in their original containers. Except for one instance... I order one set of each, mint set, proof set and silver proof set, for my special Dansco albums that I am trying to fill with the best I can find or afford... which ever comes first.

          So, no, I do not remove the coins from the case unless there is something wrong with them. It is amazing how some coins become so discolored over time and pretty much lose their mint classification because of that.

          I know that no one is perfect, and I don't expect that in everything.

          Thanks for discussing this topic because it helps me to see that, indeed, others can be upset about being fleeced by the mint.

          jeankay

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          • #6
            I have cancelled all the other things I had on order from the mint. Thanks for sharing your experience as well.

            Linda

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            • #7
              Thank you for responding to my rantings.
              I really don't want anyone to completely quit buying from the mint because we wouldn't be able to get anything at all on the outside.
              The only coins I have gotten from the mint that were perfect were the Silver Eagle Proofs. It is amazing how pretty one of our coins can be.
              jeankay

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