History behind pre-1900 proofs: Post your favorite pre-1900 Proof/CAM/DCAM

Avocet

This coin and recent posts have prompted me to research the history of proof coins from the U.S. mint. I believe the U.S. Mint began making proof coins around 1817, and began selling proof coins directly to collectors in 1861, 30 years before this coin.

What I have turned up suggests that the U.S. Mint initially made proof coins as specimens to check die quality, but there must also have been an effort to produce these coins to create quality specimens to share with collectors and visitors to the mint. I assume that the creation of proof, cameo, and deep cameo specimens in 1891 was in answer to the demand, but the interest must not have been very high as so few were made.

I have always enjoyed this coin in my collection, and as with other coins, the background stories for them add so much to the value for me. 1891 was a common date for this coin, but very few proofs/CAM/DCAM for 1891 5C exist.

Your thoughts? More to add to the history? Have a favorite pre-1900 Proof/CAM/DCAM?

rhedden

I only have a few Seated proofs with CAM/DCAM designation. Many of my Seated proofs have pretty toning and did not get called CAM, even if they are a bit frosty under the skin. This 1865 quarter in PCGS PR64 DCAM was "made" by me somewhere around 2008 after being discovered raw in an album. Never sent to CAC (and never will be).

humanssuck

My favorite pre 1900 proof set:

FlyingAl

The Mint sold proofs to collectors long before 1861 - it just had to be someone who specifically requested them by letter or visited the mint and requested them. In 1858, the amount of requests that came in prompted the mint to make a standardized process. The first announcement of this was sent to the public in 1859, and regulations were defined in a letter by director Snowden on March 8th, 1860:

To carry into effect the directions as to the giving out of Master coins, contained in the Circular of the 20th of December, 1859, the following regulations are made:

The Chief Coiner Will deliver them (i.e., Master Coins] to the Treasurer (of the mint as other coins are delivered, and shall, as in other cases, be credited by the weight of the coins.

2. The Treasurer will be charged for the same, as in similar cases.

3. The premium on the sets, or single pieces, delivered to applicants, will be paid monthly into the Ordinary fund of the Mint, to meet the expenses which have been incurred in preparing and striking the Master Coins.

4. The charge for a full set of the Gold Coins will be $43.00 and for a full set of the Silver Coins $3.00. When single pieces are desired, they will be paid for as follows:

Gold Coins:
Double-Eagle. 20.30
Eagle. 10.30
Half-Eagle. 5.30
Three Dollars 3.25
Quarter-Eagle 2.75
One-Dollar 1.10 - $43.00

Silver Coins:
Dollar $ 1.60
Half-dollar .75
Quarter-dollar .35
Dime. .15
Half-dime .08
Three Cents .05
Cent-piece .02 - $3.00

Avocet

@FlyingAl said:
The Mint sold proofs to collectors long before 1861 - it just had to be someone who specifically requested them by letter or visited the mint and requested them. In 1858, the amount of requests that came in prompted the mint to make a standardized process. The first announcement of this was sent to the public in 1859, and regulations were defined in a letter by director Snowden on March 8th, 1860:

To carry into effect the directions as to the giving out of Master coins, contained in the Circular of the 20th of December, 1859, the following regulations are made:

The Chief Coiner Will deliver them (i.e., Master Coins] to the Treasurer (of the mint as other coins are delivered, and shall, as in other cases, be credited by the weight of the coins.

2. The Treasurer will be charged for the same, as in similar cases.

3. The premium on the sets, or single pieces, delivered to applicants, will be paid monthly into the Ordinary fund of the Mint, to meet the expenses which have been incurred in preparing and striking the Master Coins.

4. The charge for a full set of the Gold Coins will be $43.00 and for a full set of the Silver Coins $3.00. When single pieces are desired, they will be paid for as follows:

Gold Coins:
Double-Eagle. 20.30
Eagle. 10.30
Half-Eagle. 5.30
Three Dollars 3.25
Quarter-Eagle 2.75
One-Dollar 1.10 - $43.00

Silver Coins:
Dollar $ 1.60
Half-dollar .75
Quarter-dollar .35
Dime. .15
Half-dime .08
Three Cents .05
Cent-piece .02 - $3.00

This is an excellent piece of history, and thank you for sharing this. I have not seen this detail from the 1859 circular before, and it is fascinating to see the first formal process for distribution and the premium charged. I have read that third parties later developed special packaging, such as leather cases, for some specimens as they became more popular. This kind of history gives us a different insight into early numismatics...

robec

PR63CA

asheland

I only have this one:

BillJones

I think that the Gobrecht Dollar is the most common pre 1858 U.S. Proof coin. That was the year the mint starting offering Proof coins to the public on a systematic basis.

This one is a PR-62, CAC. The mint probably made an effort to make the coins in the Proof format because they were re-introducing the silver dollar coin after a hiatus of over 30 years. This one is one of the 1,000 pieces issued in 1836 that were issued with the eagle flying "onward and upward" on the reverse.

This one has the Cameo citation although I find it hard to see. It is graded PR-63, CAM

This one should have gotten the Cameo citation in my opinion. It is graded PR-64.

Batman23

The only one I have. Graded at 64DCAM.

BillJones

Here's a dime that the got the CAM designation.

FrankH

P0CKETCHANGE

65CAM CAC Shield Nickel, although the TrueView spotlights the fields so it’s tough to tell. My 3CN is also a 65CAM, but it’s currently at PCGS for a reholder & photo shoot.

Tomthemailcarrier

From D.W.N.

mavs2583

One of my favorite collection pieces

Avocet

@BillJones said:
I think that the Gobrecht Dollar is the most common pre 1858 U.S. Proof coin. That was the year the mint starting offering Proof coins to the public on a systematic basis.

This one is a PR-62, CAC. The mint probably made an effort to make the coins in the Proof format because they were re-introducing the silver dollar coin after a hiatus of over 30 years. This one is one of the 1,000 pieces issued in 1836 that were issued with the eagle flying "onward and upward" on the reverse.

This one has the Cameo citation although I find it hard to see. It is graded PR-63, CAM

This one should have gotten the Cameo citation in my opinion. It is graded PR-64.

I have noticed a greater prevalence of proofs in the Gobrechts, and your info makes sense. These are great pieces, and the cameo designations are interesting to study. I can see what you mean....

winesteven

Here’s some of several different denominations/sizes. My favorite among them is the Half Dollar.

Separately, thank you to those who added the grade where the TrueView or other photo doesn’t have it. This way we can learn a bit about grading, without having to take the time to look up each cert number (if shown) in order to see the grade. Thanks!

PR67+CAM w/CAC:

PR66CAM w/CAC:

PR66+CAC w/CAC:

PR67+CAM w/CAC:

PR67CAM w/CAC:

My Favorite - PR65+DCAM w/CAC:

PR65CAM w/CAC:

ricko

I do not have any old proof coins. Years ago, I purchased the modern proof sets from the Mint... They are all packed away in a box I have not opened in over twenty years. I also purchased the proof ASE's and AGE's up until about 2007.... After that, only special issues. Those old proofs are really nice. Cheers, RickO

MidLifeCrisis

winesteven

As a type Set collector, I found that most of the time, coins in these high grades are significantly less expensive in Proof than the equivalent registry grade as a business strike. For example, with most registry Type Sets, you get one extra grade point for a CAM designation, and two extra grade points for a DCAM designation.

So as a generalization, a PR67 is often less expensive than a MS67 (and in general has nicer eye appeal too, due to the stronger strike and mirrored fields). A PR67CAM, which often costs only slightly more than a PR67 with no suffix, is equivalent in Registry points to a MS68. A PR67DCAM is equivalent in Registry points to a MS69. As such, I've used that strategy of buying Proofs for many of my Type Set slots to maximize registry points for the dollars spent, AND to have (in my opinion) coins that are more appealing being Proof than Mint State.

The_Dinosaur_Man

I love the early proofs and enjoy explaining to others how little of a premium they were sold at over face. If only that practice had continued today...

PeakRarities

@winesteven That half dollar really is outstanding, the frost on that reverse is something else.

Some exceptional coins posted in this thread , all of them!

Floridafacelifter

I do love the early proofs…… okay so I guess I love ALL proofs
PR66

PR64CAM CAC

PR64+ CAC

PR63BM CAC

pcgscacgold

@Floridafacelifter said:
I do love the early proofs…… okay so I guess I love ALL proofs
PR66

PR64CAM CAC

PR64+ CAC

PR63BM CAC

These look great.

Your Liberty Proof gold isn’t too bad either 😃

OldIndianNutKase

I have a few. Four different types: