I Sent an Original 1947 US Mint Uncirculated 28-Coin Set for PCGS for Grading - Was it Worth it? 

I'm the happy owner of that 1957 mint set from a couple weeks ago. I'm leaning toward keeping it as-is in the paper. I thought briefly about sending them off for grading, but I like the history and the possibility for more color.

The au nickels definitely looked like replacements to me.They had alot of nicks, and I believe some wear.😊

I really like ANACS for grading a full set. You can get one holder for each mint board, with the individual grades as well as the net grade for the collection. Kinda cool. I think NGC does it, too.

Hey Ben - I think those original sets in their original state are gorgeous - I appreciate you schooling us on these sets in detail -

Ben, just a heads up that I was alerted and watched your video as soon as I received the notification but RU-vid did not provide the opportunity to write a comment. I had to go out and close the app and look for your video to be able to write this. I loved the video. I have several mint sets from the 40’s and 50’s so I was very thankful for the information in your format. Appreciate all you do for the community. God bless you

The way they should always do the mint sets i love how many examples you got back then!

I really enjoyed this show. Very fun demo. Looks like another reminder to keep your mitts off your copper coins! Wow, those fingerprints are on those pennies forever. Thanks for all the detailed information.

Ive had 2 proof sets 1957 and 58 . the deep cameo in them is better then some of my PR 68 and PR69 CAMEO quarters. The PR63 came back as a 69 U cameo has a population of 131. Finally a home run. Im gonna try my 57 and 58 PRoofs

I really appreciate this extremely thorough presentation. I have to wonder if the graders at PCGS pieced together the idea or understanding that the 28 coins were fresh from a US Mint set. Your remarks regarding the copper and nickel coins is so very true, that they just don't hold up as well in cardboard over a 70+ year period.

CRAZY , theres a ms64 on ebay $20 bin this is why i so weary of grading anyway, i know you heard all of this before ... thanks for sharing the content, lwjf

Very low mintage on the 1947-48 double mint sets, like 5000 or so. Interesting experiment you did. I have about 7 or 8 later sets that I have debated sending some of the coins in for years. Somehow just can't bring myself to break the sets up, but some beautiful toners in them.

This feels like some kind of numismatic Yahtzee

To buy a set like that u need to really trust that no one replaced any of those coins

Really fun video Ben. Lots of appreciation for doing these as us mere mortals have no business doing this! It's super fun and even entertaining to see the result. I agree with one poster that the Nickels may have been cherry picked and replaced somewhere along the line.

Great presentation and information! I really enjoy the entact sets myself, but also its easy to understand the desire to preserve them. Either way these original coins are just a sight to behold.

Nice Walkerrs!!!! I'm surprised you didn't get a full steps nickel

Ben may hit homeruns like Randy Johnson, but I hit them as well as he rounds first base! 😂 The quarters saving the day was quite the unexpected turn. I've yet to have a silver quarter grade out an MS67 or higher. Several MS66+ though.

Now that I watched the whole video I have to say I think you did very well. All things considered to get a pair of 67s on those quarters even though you're not super thrilled is really a tall task. I've sent lots of quarters in from original rolls and cherry picked cream, De La cream and get a 67 is a very high standard The 66 full band dime is nice. I've got a bunch of those out of 1940s Roosevelt 50 bucks on average. When it comes to the copper pennies and nickels, it's not so much about the grade as it is the eye appeal I've had nickels and 65 steps with great toning for $100 which might not sound like a lot but when the PriceGuide is $10 it's pretty good Outstanding video !

I’m really learning a lot from watching your presentations, and I really enjoy your show

By the way Randy Johnson was a mariner before he became a diamondback.. lot of us in Seattle are still sour about that especially when he went to the Hall of Fame

I’m glad I discovered your channel , I appreciate all you do , thanks and I enjoy your presentations

Wow, you finally got an MS67 on a Washington quarter, and more than one, at that. Pigs DO fly!

Interesting albeit expensive experiment, nice to see some of those coins do as well as they did really. Thanks

I have the 1957 and 58 mint sets . the most pristine coins you've ever seen. The 58 was the last year of the wheat ears. All Mine have a mirrow

You are spot on Ben. I've contemplated the same things with these or rolls and even in MS66, the PDS Quarters and Dimes are sub $50, often a stretch to get $40 and the Pennie's and nickels half that price. Even if the 47PD Walkers come back 66, they're not $300+ so if you're lucky and get 66 across the board (that will never happen - there will always be a couple dogs and getting a 67 on any of those coins is a lottery ticket chance). I have hundreds of original rolls thousands in face value of pre 1960 D Q HD 5c and 1c rolls and 67 is a very very difficult grade to attain. So only 6 min into the video id say you'd be lucky to recoup 80% The max value of the original cardboard and double cardboard mint sets is, and always will be in its original form PS the cents also have to be full red, or alternatively full brown with great toning MS66/67 top pop Great video (6 min so far anyway).

AU58? What the heck. I'm glad you got decent grades on the other coins. Personally I'd probably offer the entire set with the original holder as a single unit but realistically not many folks are going to shell out the cash for that

I *really* want to find one of these! 🤤 I've had a few '54s through '58s (and yes, cherrypicked a few), but that '47 is elusive and *expensive* !

Thank You for sharing that Very Important information. I'm a newbie to this exciting hobby and I totally appreciate learning from a Real Human Not AI. Keep them coming please 😊

Nice Ben! Love those mint sets. I have a couple

Nice video Ben very nice coins. I purchased the 58 mint set and love it thanks

Don't some TPG companies (e.g. NGC) offer the ability to have them encapsulated within a multi coin holder? If the goal is to keep the coins together, that would have been my first thought since these particular coins aren't going to grade up to MS 68.

Fantastic breakdown!

Very interesting video. I have a set that I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Thanks!

Correct to generous grading.

I know where Tucson is, I lived in Phoenix for about a year , I’m a long distance truck driver 30 yrs now. I’ve lived in Florida 25 yrs now, I wanna come back to Phoenix, possibly Tucson. Or Yuma or globe or Miami Arizona. Or flagstaff, I miss Arizona

Just goes to show you, how difficult it can be to find Mint Set coins in FDC + I am not Suprised, it was worth having a Go

it shows that the graders in the room don't understand poor strike from wear. The hint should have been that there were 26 other coins that looked just like them. When you have graders who have never seen a 47 mint set being opened grading coins you get stupid grades. Back in the 90's we bought a deal of them, 5 sets, 4 were sealed, all different family members, the nickels looked the same way, worn out dies

Lol, Randy Johnson was a pitcher. I had to think about that one for a second.

Once again, I have learned so much....Thank you!!

These unboxing videos are extremely helpful. I've bought many pre=65 mint sets and have wondered " How can I tell if this is going to be worth my troubles ". I've also heard that PCGS is hiring new coin grading trainees and some dealers are not happy with their results. When should collector's use NGC or ANACS ?

Scary and risky proposition amigo.

Maybe not profitable, but the fact you actually got them to grade is nothing to scoff at. A lot of ED coins came out of early mint sets that were stored too long in the original envelopes and kept in an environment that was more humid than it should have been.

19:38 No one commented about the reference to the Tool song AEnema? Ben the ProgRockGeek youtube channel coming soon. 😉

There is no way a mint set would have marks like on that Jefferson Nickel. This is a composed set. Someone pulled off the best coins and replaced them. That 63RB cent also has a nice thumbprint tarnish. My big question though...I would have assumed those mildew spots would have harmed the grading more than it did. Is that not considered part of the grade?

I really think that with economy service comes economy grades. 🤷‍♂

I pulled the 49s out of a double set as I thought it would be at least 65FBL, came back 64 no FBL so was a waste of time and money, should have just sold it as a set as it was. Also, the cents get really nasty on the back side.

I’m five minutes in and wanted to say this is awesome! Excellent content as always Ben!

it would have been interesting if you provided your grade/opinion before you sent them in and then compare your guesses to what came back.

Thank- you again for spending your $$$, to us considering to have any uncirculated coin sets : Graded . P.S. Buy them already Graded, don’t spend to have it done.

very cool. i recommend doing more

If the Nickels have Full Steps can fetch a hefty Premium

Also full Bands on the Dimes

Was that a TooL (band) reference I heard? Bill Hicks?

Hi Ben

That was a great video! I also subbed.

Hey Ben

I want to get one for my mother. Her birth year ❤

Do they tell you it would be full bands if you wanted to pay more to get the designation? Thanks

Great content and explanation. Thanks!

California toning, on such a winter day. Hah! Dear Lord I'm old.

💮 enjoy your show ♻️ thanks for the invite 💮

Very cool. Can't wait for AI to revolutionize TP coin grading lol.

Try cleaning the coins first, before you send them in, with e-Z-est and MS70, probably get an higher grade!

I'm suprised they graded that high. All the spots and black edges were overlooked. To me that's not toning.

The disappointment is not unexpected. The academic exercise is interesting but the AU grades on the nickels are scandalous. I am more convinced than ever that the grading service companies exist for that high end investor not a collector. To have expected a 68 on any of those coins previewed was unrealistic at best. Oh, Ben!

So you didn’t request full bands variety? I thought you had to check the variety box in order to get the designation.?

I'm no "purist" by far, but I'm one of the folks that would rather keep the coins in the placard, inside the original envelope.

I really enjoyed this .

Super

Could it have made any difference if you had sent them in the original paper? Like, maybe the nickels would have been MS60s?

How much would a 1945 set normally run for???

The Brittish made the penny! The US made the Native American cent the wheat ear cent etc. etc.

I definitely would have dipped the silver coins

How do you tell us the incorrect grade when he is holding the coin?

If sending to grading includes busting outta of my air tites, no bueno no can do. El Paso . I thinks only a couple of cleaned ones skipped by

It looks like some of the Jefferson nickels were close to being 5 step. Is that something which needs to be requested when being sent in for certification?

No full steps designation on those nickles?

How to sell this kind of old coins from the Philippines

Not to be rude, or offensive, but, when we speak we spit little specs, and if the coins are below you in front of you on table you possibly are spiting on coins and our saliva is acidic, and not immediately but over time those little specs will show up on your coins and are not removable. You know, recently , COVID-19 the pandemic , and plastic shields at cash registers is also an example of what I’m saying. When we speak we all do it, we spit little specs

I'm one of the people who wants to keep it original

Putting on gloves 🧤 4 our viewing pleasure. Nice 👍

The cheap cardboard and paper made those coins look pretty crappy.

How do you know a coin is a proof? Thinking SMS and back.

Yeah, but what about those stamps on the original envelope?

Why on Earth did you not dip the silver?

Hi Ben OT question. I found a brown 1954-D wheat penny in my pocket yesterday. It's in a rough shape, but it weighs 3.33 grams. It didn't react to magnet. Have you come across anything like this? What do you do if you were my place? I can make a 2 minutes video for it and upload it here on RU-vid if you think it's unique. Thank you.

Hi Ben. There are many more than two ways to look at this set. Did you look at it sideways? Did you look at it upside down? Did you look at it under a black light? Did you look at it under a magnifying glass? Did you look at it underwater? Whatcha looking at, Willis? 😵‍💫👀 *>>--->* 🦉

Technology did not exist back then to where proof 70’s exist or mint state , so when your getting 67 grades that’s probubly the best there is in existence. And, myself, a high grade with out the eye appeal I’ve myself personally always steered clear of. And toned coins I never did see what others see. I’m more the perfection type. If it looks good and high grade. That’s what I like. And I won’t buy a worn down coin that’s rare just because it’s rare, it’s always been with me, it has to look good for me to want it , if it looks good but low grade, that’s ok too , but the eye appeal is everything to me moreso than the grade

Looking like the s nickels were switched out

The black spots on these coins make them very undesirable it’s original toning means there’s color in it not black or not black spots.So the grades are correctBUT value is low compared to those coins same grade without the black spots Black spotted coins don’t have really any value compared to the coin that’s not spotted with the same grade

why are proofs lesser in value even though they are nicer coins?

the fact you can send an original mint set in and get an AU grade is absurd....

ouch!

unless these sets are sealed or if you totally trust who you buy them from, I would not touch them. good coins are broken out and replaced.

Tough results..

I need to sell my old coins from the Philippines

Ultrasonic and off to ngc

Ouch, I think you got burned. I’d rather have the set the way it was and my $800 cash.

grades too low, you will lose money by grading those, dont forget the 22. fee does not include postage and insurance cost both ways. coins typically cost 30. to 34. to certify, too high for most all coins

PCGS is an authority because PCGS says it is. Same with NGC. Pay them enough, they'll give you what you want.