Original 1955 Boxed U.S. Proof Sets
jfriedm56
Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭✭✭
In another Forum it was stated that 1955 proof sets came in two styles of boxed sets. One stated that the coins were housed in cellophane pockets as in the previous 5 years and I've only seen them in the soft poly bags. Please, all you experts in the earlier proof sets weigh in and help me straighten this dilemma.
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I don't know anything about it. Did a search and found this greysheet article (link below) that says:
https://www.greysheet.com/coin-prices/series/united-states-proof-sets/1955
"Proof sets made from 1936 through mid 1955 consist of individual proof coins in cellophane envelopes that are stapled together in a bundle and packaged in a cardboard box stuffed with tissue. In mid 1955, proof sets were assembled in a single cellophane pack shipped to collectors in a manila envelope. "
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
@lilolme, thanks. So my question was, did they also come originally in individual cellophane flips, as opposed to the poly bags?
Edited for correctness
Those are the flat packs not a different style of box sets.
Correct as it states they go into a manilla envelope. Just copied and pasted that part of the paragraph of the article. I thought the part of:
"... consist of individual proof coins in cellophane envelopes that are stapled together in a bundle..."
Applied to the OP question.
If one goes to the link I provided it also states that the cellophane was used by the mint until 1964.
Again I don't know anything about it so I can't confirm it but just providing the link and information.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
I thought the poly bags started sometime in 1954?
1955 was the changeover year from boxed to flat pack. The 1955 flat packs apparently carry a premium over the boxed sets.
Collector, occasional seller
Thanks so far for everyone’s feedback. Is there any written proof and Mint pictures to verify. So I need to ask this. If these were replacement bags years later for crumbling cello pouches, why are they only in 1955 sets? I’ve never seen them in any earlier sets and I own quite a few. And I’m not talking about the ‘55 flat packs
I don't think it would make sense for someone to take coins from broken cello and put them in poly bags when just about any storage method is objectively better, be it hard case or 2x2. The only reason I can think is if someone wants the set to "appear" original.
A quick look on ebay and every 1955 boxed set is in poly bags, not cello bags. This cannot be by coincidence. 1954 is a toss up of poly bags and cello bags which supports what I said above, 1954 was the changeover.
Collector, occasional seller
The 1955 Box Sets came in plastic sleeves that was not inert. They imparted ugly dark toning on the silver coins which ruined many of them. I would take the cellophane over that any day. The mint switched from cellophane to plastic sleeves in mid 1954.
It's one of the reason why the Boxed sets sold for less than then envelope sets.
I don't have a 1955 Box Set although I have owned them in the past. They were the only boxed sets that had the date printed on the front of the box. Here is an example of a boxed set.
None of those materials from that era were archival including the cardboard boxes themselves.
As other people have stated the cellophane sleeves used exclusively in the 1950-1953 boxed proof sets were used partially in 1954. In 1954 the mint changed from the cellophane sleeves to the softer polybag sleeves. 1954 boxed proof sets can be found with either of these sleeves. in 1955 the boxed sets used only the softer polybag sleeves. In 1955 the mint also changed from using the cardboard boxes to the yellow flatpack packaging (with all 5 coins sealed in plastic) that was used from mid 1955 though 1964.
The softer polybag sleeves are not inert. They can cause the proof coins (most often the silver coins) to develop purplish toning that is mostly not attractive. If one dips such a coin to remove the purplish toning you will find that what had been toned a purple color will turn to an unattractive tan color. The tan color cannot be removed.
Here is a 1954 PF66CAM half dollar of mine that is drop dead gorgeous (except for the light tan color on a portion of the reverse side of the coin). If the tan color (which likely resulted from a dip to remove purplish toning imparted to the coin by a soft polybag sleeve) could be removed I could see this half dollar receiving a higher grade and receiving a DCAM designation.
Looks like the boxes are getting sorted out.
I dug into my box of old stuff and found a late 1950's flat pack that I got many years ago. It had this card in it with material noted. Can it be assumed it is correct or Not.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwmUMvhy-lY - Pink Me And Bobby McGee
.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D0FPxuQv2ns - Ruby Starr (from 'Go Jim Dandy') Maybe I'm Amazed
RLJ 1958 - 2023
I've got a 1954 set in soft poly bags
@SanctionII, thanks for your explanation. I have never seen the 1954 set with poly bag sleeves. You learn something new every day. But I did know that they were used exclusively in 1955. You've pretty much answered my question. Thanks again.
And thank you everyone who gave feedback. All information was useful.