What is a skunk box?

Ben Cartwright SASS

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I have always felt that any box of halves without a single silver is a skunk, but today I went through 2 of my 4 boxes, no silver but found 17 NIFC, 2 NO FG's and 5 Proofs, 4 in one box and 1 in the other.

Would finding Proofs and NO FG's keep it from being a skunk, what about the NIFC's

What is a skunk?

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I've assumed it meant no silvers found.
 

Errors are debatable, but my rule is no silver.

Perhaps another way to look at it could be whether you could resell at a profit what you've found. NIFC and proofs - probably not. Errors, like I said are debatable; depends on condition, scarcity, and desirability. Silver, definitely.

Ultimately, it's up to you to define what you consider a skunk box.
 

I see No FG's go for $10 each and impared proofs anywhere from $2 - $3 each. NIFC are often 75 cents to $1 but to me $1 is not worth the trouble. but $10 for a No FG, to me is selling at a profit,

however that being said if I look at the time involved what you need to profit is, Trip to local bank to order boxes 1/2 hour, pickup boxes 1/2 hour, go through two boxes 3 hours, return boxes to two to three different banks away from local area 1 hour. So I spend 6 hours for every two boxes, at minimum wage here that is $66, less taxes withholding etc, it is about $40, that mean to show a profit you need 5 90% or 13 40% to break even with what you would make at McDonalds (actually around here they are paying $12). So a skunk would be less than 5 90's or 13 40's if it is about a profit.

That being said I always felt that a skunk was no silver, however I now feel that a proof that could be sold for more that 50 cents (most of them) or a No FG keeps it from being a skunk.

I will be seeing if I can sell my Proofs at the next gun show I am displaying my collection at at the end of January. I see them selling for $2-$3 for circulated proof on Ebay, not asking selling. So I will put them on the table for either $2 or $2.50 or the really nice 1976 I just got for $3 and we will see what I get.

If you only get one 40% that is $3 but a nice proof is $3 or a no FG is $5-$10 I guess to me a skunk is no Silver or Proofs or missing FG's
 

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I guess I am excited over proofs as I had only found one in my life until the last 3 boxes, now I have 6 in these 3 boxes. But Silver, none in the first two boxes and then in the third box today, I found a 40% 1968, I was more excited that over the proofs. Silver is still the biggest rush
 

For me no silver = SKUNK. First box of 2018 had a Bender for me and was decent!
 

Skunks = NO SILVERS, period, and that's the way it's always been assumed.
 

Well then I had a 2 skunk run so far this year, broke it with a 1968D 40% on the third box
 

I assume no silvers found, although a proof in circulation is no longer proof.
 

I assume no silvers found, although a proof in circulation is no longer proof.

No. A proof isn't a grade, it's how it is made. A proof can be impaired, but it's still a proof.
 

No. A proof isn't a grade, it's how it is made. A proof can be impaired, but it's still a proof.

That is correct, you can see them being sold on Ebay as "Impaired Proof" they go anywhere from $2 to $4 depending on condition.

I am going to put all my NIFC in cardboard 2x2's and put them in a bucket labeled $2 each 3 for $5 and put them on my table at the gun show.

However I will say that silver gets me going and a skunk is PROBABLY no silver, although normally for me proofs are even more rare than 90%, before this week I had only found 1 in my life, these 4 boxes I found 5 proofs and 1 40% 1968
 

I like to find proofs. I save all I find.
Even though they are low mintage, beautiful coins, they are basically worth 50 cents each once they are circulated.
The ones I have (4+ rolls) sit in a box in the closet.
Not only do I not look at these magnificent coins, but they represent $40 less bankroll for hunting.
 

Don't say circulated proofs are not worth money, Check Ebay, not the for sale but the sold buy it now listings, they are getting $2-$3 for each CIRCULATED Proof half dollar. There are alot of younger collectors who are on a budget and circ proofs sell.

I have fouind a couple proof quarters and 6 halves, but never a proof dime.
 

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