I just got an opportunity to go through about 310 1986 mint sets and as is often the case was surprised at the quality of many of the coins. I paid particular interest to the cents this time. Most of the Denver cents were gems to superb gems. There were a couple which would be considered choice and one which barely deserved to be called unc. There were perhaps 20 coins which had significant plating problems including one that looked like Abe's beard had a beard. There were only ten or so coins with carbon spots or corrosion. There were 14 coins which were so nice they stood out above the rest. Most were startling proof like, and had no discernable marking to the naked eye. One had an unusual surface which looked similar to a matte proof.
I'll go back Monday and look at the Philly's. _________________ Tempus fugit.
Mint sets do not normally accumulate like this. The mint had a maximum order of five sets and even those who circumvented this restriction rarely accumulated so many. When sets are found in such numbers they are almost always being put together for a promotion of one sort or another. Sometimes it is just a single or a few coins in the set and they'll be removed for the promotion. In the old days the other coins were just placed into circulation but this is not the case anymore, usually.
There are people with an interest in just about all the mint set coins and these are in some demand as singles.
I go through all the sets I or contacts can find looking for varieties and gems. They are getting increasingly difficult to locate and this is the first significant batch I've found in some time now. _________________ Tempus fugit.
I'm not really at liberty to say much. I do look for gems and varieties and go wherever I can find them. Mint sets are the best place to find gems usually.
I will eventually be selling coins on the net, but not until the market is ready, which will be at least a little longer yet. _________________ Tempus fugit.
Wow! What a difference a weekend makes. The Philly coins have a much different character than the Denver. There were only a few more tarnished or corroded (a couple were attractively toned) but there were many with carbon spots. About sixty had these spots and mostly it would be just one really big spot somewhere. There were probably a couple hundred with at least minor plating problems and dozens with bubbling and other severe problems. Grades ranged much more widely with many in the MS-64 to MS-66 area. There were sixteen coins that stood out and even these weren't as nice as the Denvers. Several have a sort of striated look to them. There were not very many of the PL coins and many of them were banged up. The finest coin is an attractive PL which is clean except for many tiny marks which can be seen under magnification. _________________ Tempus fugit.
