Comments on: American Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary Set Photos, Latest Values

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:39:45 +0000

rpw, 15 seventys out of 25 Silver Eagles and 4 of 5 reverse proofs also 2 San Francisco that’s great. Never got a 67 Silver Eagle. Thanks for sharing that.
Joe

By: rpw

rpw — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:02:04 +0000

Got my 25th Anniversary Set results today. Overall – Just ok in my opinion. I think they did what they had to do given there were 5 sets (25 coins). There’s no way it should have been anything less given what I’ve seen from all the other posts on these sets.
Results are:

COIN LIST

Coins for NGC invoice number XXXX8690
LineItem Year Mint Mark Variety/Pedigree Denom. Grade Comments
001 2011 EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
002 2011 EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
003 2011 EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
004 2011 EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
005 2011 EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
006 2011 S EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
007 2011 S EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
008 2011 S EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
009 2011 S EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
010 2011 S EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
011 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 67
012 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 69
013 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
014 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
015 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 MS 70
016 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
017 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
018 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
019 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70 ULTRA CAMEO
020 2011 W EAGLE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
021 2011 P EAGLE REVERSE PF 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70
022 2011 P EAGLE REVERSE PF 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70
023 2011 P EAGLE REVERSE PF 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 69
024 2011 P EAGLE REVERSE PF 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70
025 2011 P EAGLE REVERSE PF 25TH ANNIVERSARY SET S$1 PF 70

Abbreviation meanings
BN = Brown CA = Cameo DPL = Deep Prooflike FB = Full Split Bands
FBL = Full Bell Lines FH = Full Head FT = Full Torch MS = Mint State
PF = Proof PL = Prooflike RB = Red Brown RD = Red
SP = Specimen UC = Ultra Cameo 5FS = Five Full Steps 6FS = Six Full Steps

RPW…

By: rpw

rpw — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:49:34 +0000

@Bubba
You are correct. If people would quit sending them in to be graded, the problem wouldn’t exist. However, people do- so the rest of us are stuck and must follow suit otherwise our coins become “less” valuable simply by default. Buyers look at what they are getting for their money and buy what seems to be most valuable – whatever that may mean.
Unfortunately – it’s a darn if you do darn if you don’t situation. You said “what does it matter if they are 69 versus 70”? Really? Have you looked at the aftermarket prices?
It matters. Sad but true. I don’t like it either and being naturally stubborn, I too, let my stubborn-ness get the best of me in the past. Plain and simple- better safe than sorry.
As I learned as a young child – if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
I’m also now learning that there is NO END TO THE MADNESS! Now grading isn’t enough. You have to have a top notch grade AND a signed (by the chief engraver) slab for it to command a higher price. What next? I have no idea and already don’t like it but it’s competition and the free market at work and unfortunately – we all have to live with it. I won’t grade all my coins but I will be selective and have some graded because I have seen the difference it makes. Just my opinion of course.

By: Duane

Duane — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:09:33 +0000

Just a comment about the discussion of NGC or PCGS making up higher grade sets with your coins for dealers. I am not a dealer and sent in one 25th Anniversary set I managed to get and just got confirmation that all coins were graded either MS70, PF70 or PF70 UC. I was hoping your discussion was not true. Perhaps this is a positive sign otherwise.

By: Bubba H

Bubba H — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:18:25 +0000

Funny how people are worried about sending unopened boxes to grading companies and then send them to them anyway. The reason the system is in place is because people do it. If people would quit doing it, things would change. A lot of people are making money because of grading. What does it really matter if your coin is a 69 or 70? Almost all modern proof coins are either 69 or 70.

By: rpw

rpw — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:42:36 +0000

I agree James and John. Unfortunately, the only choices we have are send it in or don’t.
My take (wrongly) is this. If I get back MS70 or PF70 on 1 out of 5 of the sets, it was better than not sending it in at all (I think) only because it will have an early release designation. I don’t think that should matter but somehow, collectors have made it matter. I expect nothing less than 69’s but even without seeing them – I don’t see how they could not be 70’s. If I get back anything less – I’ll NEVER use them again for unopened coins. The early release designation just isn’t worth the risk. I am still contemplating sending in my 2009 UHR Double Eagle but I will take some high quality, High Resolution pics of it first before I send it in to document the coin as best I can. Even so – there’s still no guarantee that I’ll get back MY coin. The only way to guarantee that is to have it graded on site – in person. I do agree that there needs to be some way to distinguish a good coin from a great coin but I think this is very subjective. This is my biggest beef with the grading policy: I don’t agree that we should have to send unopened boxes in within 30 days. If there is a postmark on the box, there should be NO TIME LIMIT. That way, I can have them graded in person – where I can physically see my coins as they get graded.
Sending someone my coins and allowing them to do what they want before I see them is a serious problem with this system. I believe the grading companies know this and take advantage of it. It’s the perfect scam. The ONLY way to stop it is for people to stop sending the coins and demand PROOF before sending in their coins. Heck – Maybe I’ll try to put them out of business myself and start my own grading company that offers people PROOF. If nothing else – maybe it will force them to rethink their business and ensure customers are reassured that the coin they sent is the coin they get back. Something to think about! In the meantime – best of luck to all and Happy Turkey Day!

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:59:19 +0000

The grading companies are scamming the collector in many ways. Making up grades when they want. Grading coins as they feel like it that day. Its easy for them to keep higher grades for the TV coin dealers. Whats to stop them from promising the coin dealers that they can have one thousand sets of pf 70’s and another thousand sets of pf 69’s? Then as they grade everyones coins they put aside what they had promised the coin dealers and send out the left overs to everyone else. There would be no way of us knowing. We would be paying for it and the coin dealers would be the ones that have the graders doing what they want. How else can the TV coin dealers sell graded sets the same day they are released?
I do not trust the graders and will not play thier game. Pay the extra for graded coins if you want. I’ll keep mine in the raw and enjoy them.

By: James

James — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:00:18 +0000

I sent my 5 sets off a few days ago. I really have a nauseating feeling about how the Anniversary Sets had to be sent in unopened. My box had a bar code scan, along with what looked like an inspector sticker. After reading several post about the grading services and how they could easily scam the small collector’s like myself, without anyone ever knowing. I agree with RPW and how each coin should be serialized independently. That way we would know that the coins that we send in to have graded would be the one’s we receive back.
This (could be) the biggest money maker for grading services ever, especially not knowing the facts. I believe now that I should have opened the boxes and looked at the (2) Rarer Coins in this set, and to answer his question, “No I Do Not” know of anyone ever receiving an Error Coin back from any Graders.
It’s even more scary that with all of the comments, that the grading services aren’t posting any information regarding these issue’s.
I’m Just Sayin………..

By: rpw

rpw — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:53:28 +0000

@Joe

NGC. Couldn’t decide which agency was better (based solely on after market prices for their graded products) so I just went with them.

I still think grading is a SCAM but depending on what happens with my coins, I may change my mind. Honestly – I don’t see how one coin is “significantly better” than another assuming there is no visible difference in quality. Some 25th coins are on ebay for a ridiculous price – simply because the slab was signed by the chief designer. BIG DEAL – what does that have to do with the coin????
I think it’s time to “OCCUPY THE US MINT” or “OCCUPY THE GRADING AGENCIES”. I started buying coins solely as a silver/gold investment a few years ago. I think it may have turned into a slight obsession now but I really do like the coins. Even so – the original intent still remains – Wealth accumulation/preservation in light of the economic environment we live in today. Sure I’d love my coins to be worth more but how does one really justify some of these prices? I just don’t get it. Something tells me – the hype of the 25th Sets have peaked for now and will start to go down in price for a while.
Hopefully I’m wrong!!! No matter though. I’ll keep my one set for a long time. (The other 4 are gifts for my siblings). Best Regards and Happy Thanksgiving to All.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:55:56 +0000

Interesting to read everyones stories and comments that have received their sets. I must have the last delivery date of anyone, I was just informed today my ship date is 12/6/11. The first ship date I had was 11-14, then 11-22, the 11-24, now 12/6. Anyone have a later ship date than that?