1 December 2021
A Terrific and Original 1953 South African Mint Proof Set
I'm a big fan of original proof and mint sets when they contain great looking coins and I like these sets even more when they come with the original packaging, as well. I spend a bit of time looking through these sets, but rarely come up with anything that simply has to be purchased. A while back I shared on the PCGS boards an original and intact 1937 Canadian Specimen set where all the coins were fantastic and in consecutive PCGS OGHs.
In this article, however, I will share a terrific 1953 South African Mint proof set that I was able to obtain complete with the blue leather box with embossed gilt. The coins must have laid undisturbed for quite a while as even the interior tissue paper, which can sometimes be found with these sets, was not only pristine, but the impressions of the coins were neatly embedded into the layers of paper. I was delighted at the price quoted and decided to have the coins certified by PCGS and even had them go through the TrueView process as well. Below are the TrueView images for the complete 11-piece set, which is the first set to feature Queen Elizabeth II.
In this article, however, I will share a terrific 1953 South African Mint proof set that I was able to obtain complete with the blue leather box with embossed gilt. The coins must have laid undisturbed for quite a while as even the interior tissue paper, which can sometimes be found with these sets, was not only pristine, but the impressions of the coins were neatly embedded into the layers of paper. I was delighted at the price quoted and decided to have the coins certified by PCGS and even had them go through the TrueView process as well. Below are the TrueView images for the complete 11-piece set, which is the first set to feature Queen Elizabeth II.
To answer the question regarding the original packaging; I keep it. The original SAM box with tissue paper is sealed in a Ziplock bag and sitting in a closet. I keep all the original boxes and ephemera to these sets and, when sold, include the accessory items in the purchase. It is my hope that subsequent owners do the same when they sell the sets, as well, but one never knows what will happen. My goal for submitting these coins was to make certain that they did not turn while in the original holders and to preserve them in their current state longer.
Additionally, I have never used the TrueView service for raw coins in the past and did so this time because of the luster-color combination on these pieces that has already been stated. I found that working with PCGS on these images was very smooth in that they asked for my opinion as to how best to interpret the surfaces of the coins and they also gave me suggestions or options. I believe my thought process mirrored that of PCGS and so everything went quite well. The lead photographer at PCGS also reached out to me and gave me all the "working" images that were taken of the coins in the set. In total, there were 120-images taken of these eleven coins (twenty-two "sides") and the variation in representation is amazing to look at from image-to-image. Obviously, PCGS does not extend this courtesy to every client, but in my case I was a long-term, known commodity who had done lots of business with the company prior.
Thank you PCGS for the additional images!
Additionally, I have never used the TrueView service for raw coins in the past and did so this time because of the luster-color combination on these pieces that has already been stated. I found that working with PCGS on these images was very smooth in that they asked for my opinion as to how best to interpret the surfaces of the coins and they also gave me suggestions or options. I believe my thought process mirrored that of PCGS and so everything went quite well. The lead photographer at PCGS also reached out to me and gave me all the "working" images that were taken of the coins in the set. In total, there were 120-images taken of these eleven coins (twenty-two "sides") and the variation in representation is amazing to look at from image-to-image. Obviously, PCGS does not extend this courtesy to every client, but in my case I was a long-term, known commodity who had done lots of business with the company prior.
Thank you PCGS for the additional images!
