Owner Comments:
Some of you may remember my Journal entry about my experience getting this set from the Mint, some may not. So I am going to re-tell the basic story here.
First I'd like to comment on the price of PLATINUM lately! Last week (the week ending 3/8/2008) platinum climbed to over $2,255 per ounce. However, on Thursday or Friday, sometime in that 48 hour period, platinum dropped SIGNIFICANTLY to $2,015 per ounce. However, that is still WELL above the $1,950 cost of these two coins, including the fact that they are a limited edition set, and that one is a Reverse Proof, quite the rarity, only the third coin the U.S. has issued like that (last year's Gold 20th Anniversary and Silver 20th Anniversary were the first two).
Here's the adventure I had in obtaining the set. I ordered my set the day they went on sale. The Mint's online information said they WOULD NOT SHIP until 12/31/07. Now, keep in mind, I get a LOT of orders from the Mint, including many subscriptions. So, when FedEx showed up at my door on 12/24/07 with a package from the Fulfillment Center which the regular Mint shoppers know is NOT the Mint, I thought NOTHING of opening the package.
At once my heart nearly fell out through my stomach, knowing that I could no longer send this set for grading to NGC, and that only the Reverse Proof would qualify for the 10th Anniversary Pedigree. At the same time, I took a few minutes and got to APPRECIATE the beauty of the coins, the case, the GORGEOUS wooden box, the ingenuity of which was impressive, how the inside wood panel popped up with a gentle touch to display the two coins at an angle. It almost seems like a crime to put the coins in slabs, but we know that we MUST, collectors who follow us if we ever wish to sell at some point will demand the pedigree certification that each coin came from the set.
Of course, in TYPICAL Mint timing, the NEXT NIGHT, I received a confirmation email saying that my order for these coins had shipped that next day. So they are telling me the day AFTER I received them that they are JUST shipping these precious coins. This has been a chronic problem with the Mint, a complaint I have made repeatedly, and which has fallen on deaf ears.
What do I do? I decided to promptly return the set to the Mint, told them it was damaged (without elaborating) and asked for a replacement. I got a replacement (I was worried they would sell out), and submitted it to NGC in its UNOPENED BOX. NGC graded the coins, and returned them to me. The coins are here in the set, imaged by NGC. The Regular Proof Coin earned a PF70 Ultra Cameo, and the Reverse Proof Coin, earned a PF69. (shown below, as photographed by NGC, in photos that TRULY do not do the coin justice!)
While disappointed, because I know it's the 70s that will command the premium prices on the secondary market, perhaps moreso in the short-term, possibly in years to come as well, it is still a respectable grade.
The rise in the price of Platinum really made this set pay for itself, just at MELT VALUE! One perfect coin, and one just a grade away from perfection. It's nice that even with the price drop, the intrinsic value of the noble metal is above the value of the two coins, much less the numismatic value.