A newly discovered 1895 Proof Set....
RussHJB
Posts: 20 ✭✭✭
I finally get to share this set we recently purchased!
Long story short this set came in with a huge deal that was put together by a collector in the 1890-s to 1940's. many of the coins were purchased from B Max. Mehl and were still in their original envelopes. When the collector died it was passed down the family and was mostly forgotten under a bed. This set was raw and wrapped in the original tissue paper. No collector or numismatist had seen this set in close to 100 years. The tissue paper toned these coins SPECTACULARLY. The set made waves at the ANA went we sent it to PCGS for show walkthrough. The grades are as follows: $1 Proof 66+ (6 finer known), 50c Proof 64+, 25c Proof 66, 10c Proof 66, 5c Proof 65+ and 1c Proof 65 Red Brown. What makes this even better is ALL THE COINS are CAC approved! As far as I know this is the only original (not put together from single coins) CAC verified 1895 proof set. It was such an incredible treat to handle this set raw and be one of the first professionals to ever even see it! Enjoy these spectacular images! 
https://www.hjbltd.com/#!/inventory/item-detail/us-coins/73244
Comments
Nice. What is next for the set as I don't see it on the website.
Interesting that the cent and nickel appear to be the least toned but usually more reactive metal.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2YNufnS_kf4 - Mama I'm coming home ...................................................................................................................................................................... RLJ 1958 - 2023
What a beautiful set of Numismatic History. A Plaque with the details needs to accompany this set of coins with the individual holders inserted to be shown at any upcoming National Shows. Everyone should get to view these beauties.
Thanks for sharing.
Jim
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My goodness, simply gorgeous.
"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?"- Calvin and Hobbes
Nice set and neat story. I wonder what other coins were hiding under that bed for 100 years. Never know what is still out there in the raw.
Are they going to be housed in a multiple coin holder to preserve them as being part of the same set? How lucky for the inheritors, too. I bet they are thrilled.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
Really amazing....This is a scenario I literally dream about.
The set has been placed with a collector.
Wow!
They are all gorgeous.
As @TurtleCat has said, they would justly deserve a multi coin holder and a special label.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
I did enjoy the spectacular images. And the story. It begs some follow-up. If "this is the only original CAC verified proof set", unseen by collector or numismatist in close to 100 years, with the Mehl provenance and the original tissue packaging intact, what becomes of the set now? Six individual PCGS holders? Documented Mehl provenance? Special PCGS holder? Display?
Original tissue thrown away? None of my business? Your wonderful pictures and story have curious minds wanting to know. Thanks for sharing.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
@RussHJB... Welcome aboard. Very impressive proof set. I agree, it should all be housed in one holder. Cheers, RickO
So not everything came from Mehl. A lot did but we cant verify that this set was purchased from him. The coins are indeed in six individual holders. The set was placed, intact with a client of ours.
Absolutely incredible. Would you share more about the other coins that were part of the inheritance?
Amazing set! Welcome to the boards!
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
WOW!
Great that the set is intact with a single collector and not broken up.
It was a HOARD. Including an 1893 Proof set, a 1906 Philippines Proof set, a 1907 high relief and a lot of other goodies.
Darn! I was getting ready to buy lottery tickets to fund the purchase. 😁
Thanks for posting this thread. A great story with gorgeous coins.
I can imagine what a treat it is for you and others at HJB to find out about this collection, acquire same, evaluate same, handle and look at same, inventory same, submit selected coins for grading and sell the collection into the collector marketplace.
Coin Nirvana.
Wow, that is the hoard of dreams.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
Amazing proof set! Thanks for sharing the pictures of it and others from the hoard. Nothing under my bed but dust bunnies.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
That was a great read - thank you. And I applaud you for posting about the set after it had been sold, rather than while it was available for sale.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
As much as I'd love the publicity I think it's a little....uncouth to do something like that. The set and the story behind it are just far too interesting to not share with the wider world.
I should have moved quicker when I got the HJB email.
Nuts
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MIKE B.
Wooof!!!
What did the 1893 proof set look like? Was it complete? It would be interesting to know the original purchase prices but, of course, that would be a lot of work.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
Ironically that’s where I have my proof sets, in a large plastic box.
Of course mine are 80-90 years newer than these.
And yes, thanks for sharing the story and photos. Just seeing those envelopes would have had my heart racing!
Did you guys take pictures of the coins in the tissue paper? Images of a set in original mint wrappings are probably rarer than the coins themselves as more and more get graded.
Coin Photographer.
I should clarify, when they came to us not all of them were in the tissue paper. Some were loose, some were in envelopes. IT appears that most of the tissue paper was removed before we got them.
That makes more sense, thanks!
Coin Photographer.
What an incredible find, and the coins are all beautiful! Now we know what original, "under the bed"" toning looks like!
Very cool, thanks for sharing!
Really amazing, great post! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this ... what a fabulous set, and what sounds like a fabulous collection to uncover.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I love this story- oh to have been the one to rediscover this little hoard. I’m sure you had no problem selling these quickly!
If only the gold proofs had been included. 1895 was a good year for proof gold , but I guess it is greedy to hope for more than what is already there.
Did Mike take the photos? He really is a great coin photographer.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Stunning, great story
Wow beautiful set and love the story. Thanks for sharing.
Collector
75 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 45 members and counting!
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He sure did. His work is always excellent.
Thanks for sharing this great story! I’m curious about the US-Philippines 1906 Proof set. Would you mind sharing pics of it?
I'll do a post on it as well!
The silver pieces will eventually be bright dipped to make the set more market acceptable.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
That sounds like a faulty assumption on your part. Collector-buyers of such coins and sets typically buy them because of their originality and appearance, not with the idea of dipping them.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
mr1874
That would be an absolute travesty and given who now owns the set, I can assure you that will not happen...thankfully!
Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
https://hjbltd.com/#!/department/us-coins
Sweeeeeet!
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I said eventually, not immediately. Seen it happen before with new owner of originally toned Eliasberg coins that Eliasberg himself obtained directly from the mint. When it comes to the desire of some to make money on money no outrage on the senses is to be so casually dismissed as in "ain't gonna happen." The dollar, half-dollar, and quarter are nearing terminal toning stage.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
What a fabulous collection.
I do see some mint luster peeking through on the dollar, half-dollar, and quarter. These coins may not change much for decades to come IF they are stored properly going forward. Humidity control of the storage area is of the utmost importance to keep this dark silver from turning darker and eventually to black,the color of silver sulfide. The coins came from a Louisiana holding so that explains a lot how these coins toned as they did.
I'm not a total naysayer. I like the dime.
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.-Albert Einstein
Gee thanks. You could have given us a shot at it and put it on the BST for $167,500.00. Plenty of us have that burning a hole in our pocket. ( I refuse to a 😉 I just won’t do it.)