Discussion: VIP and VVIP Sets

[H]

"pirated"     

[nomadbird]

A word of caution:

NEVER EVER buy VIP/VVIP sets of Kolkata mint.

Almost all of them are pirated...

                      

Can an individual BUY a VVIP set ?

[Abhay]

Can an individual BUY a VVIP set ?

Not directly from the Mints, but yes, you can get these VIP and VVIP sets from the coin dealers.

Presently, one of such VIP set of Jagat Guru Shree Narayan Gurudev is available on Ebay.

Abhay

[nomadbird]

Not directly from the Mints, but yes, you can get these VIP and VVIP sets from the coin dealers.

Presently, one of such VIP set of Jagat Guru Shree Narayan Gurudev is available on Ebay.

Abhay

Oh that way.... okay thanks

[asm]

The only one I have is the one on the International Science Congress, the one that never took place and the cons were never issued.........Kolkatta Mint.

Amit

[kansal888]

Amit

You are very lucky. You have a rare distinction of having the VIP set of a coin that was not released. I also have one such set. However, I noticed that there are minor variations in different sets. Can you please send me the scans on my email?

Regards

Sanjay Kansal

[Coinsforever]

The only one I have is the one on the International Science Congress, the one that never took place and the cons were never issued.........Kolkatta Mint.

Amit

I guess the premium for such VIP sets would be exceptionally high than normal proof & UNC sets. Due to limited edition & very  few dealers offer for sale.

Cheer

[kansal888]

VIP/VVIP sets commands a substantial premium over the normal proof sets. Many bad fish are dirtying the water for their commercial gains. They make pirated VIP/VVIP sets. They sell them to unsuspecting collectors at high prices. Beware of any VIP/VVIP set issued by Kolkata Mint. Most likely, it will be a pirated set

[Abhay]

Although I specifically do not collect VIP/VVIP sets, I have a few in my collection and seen many of them. There are lots of packing varieties in these sets:

1. Coins in Horizotal Acrylic packing - In red velvet box - Jagat Guru Narayan
2. Coins in vertical acrylic packing - In blue velvet box - IAF Platinum Jubilee
3. Coins in Horizontal Acrylic packing - in light blue cardboard box - Sister Alphonsa
4. Coins in Horizontal Acrylic packing - In wooden box with Logo of RBI - 75 years of RBI
5. Coins in acrylic packing - in brown leatherrete packing - ILO and Supreme court
6. Coins in vertical acrylic packing fitted in red wooden stand - ONGC (Packing done by DIVINITY)

These are just some of the varieties that I know.

Abhay

[H]

What is meant by a "pirated" set? Is it a forgery?

[Coinsforever]

What is meant by a "pirated" set? Is it a forgery?

In simple terms usually it is defined as copy of any branded product .

Cheers

[Bimat]

What is meant by a "pirated" set? Is it a forgery?

The coins (taken out from proof set) are genuine but the packaging isn't. Also, quality of VVIP sets is same as proof sets. A VVIP set often has a medal..

Aditya

[repindia]

I have been told that these VIP sets are made to order by the mint and you need to order them in bulk. Of course only dealers are accorded this pleasure! 

On this subject I have seen sets from Kolkata for some jubilee of some mint association and this looked genuine. The coins were of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose 1997. So this was done that time too when these fake VIP sets were not in the market and makes me think the mint itself is doing all these kind of activities (maybe unofficially).

I do have one interesting set of 1969 in a 1970 plastic packaging with the mint blue velvet box and all-- the date on the plastic changed to 1969 and also one supposedly 1997 Subhas Bose set in mint velvet box. The sources for these were not from India and was told these were acquired long back. I would love to find out whether these are after market or not. Regardless they are cool!

[kansal888]

The price of VIP/VVIP sets is Rs 8K-10K. The booking price of proof set is Rs2.7K.

Thus when the proof sets are delivered by mints, their coins are removed by bad fish from their booklet (blister pack). They make pirated acrylic plates and velvet boxes. The cost of acrylic plate and velvet box is hardly Rs300.

The coins from proof set are shifted to pirated acrylic plate....and presto you get a pirated coin set for Rs 3k (Rs 2.7 K + Rs 300).

You can sell it to unsuspecting coin lovers for Rs 8k-10K.

Please note that mints outsource the acrylic plates and velvet boxes from outside suppliers. The bad fish use exactly same suppliers to get their own pirated packing. In fact mint officials themselves may guide bad fish to these suppliers. Thus there is no way to find if the acrylic plate is original or pirated.

Sadly, mints do not install any security feature (like hologram) on VIP/VVIP sets. So anyone can easily make pirated copies.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

[Coinsforever]

Sanjay Kansal

Nicely illustrated !

Cheers