1936-1942 proof set question

CarlWohlforth

I was looking up some 1936-1942 proof coins in the Red Book and I noticed that the mintage numbers for different denominations was different. It was my understanding that one would buy those coin in sets of 5. In the front of the Red Book they list mintage figures for proof sets for those years. However the numbers for individual coins are higher.

For example they state that 3,837 proof sets were made in 1936. Under Lincoln Cents they have 5,569, Buffalo Nickels 4,420, Mercury dimes 4,130, Quarters 3,837 and 3,901 Walking Liberty Half Dollars.

So, am I right in assuming that people could order individual proof coins as well as proof sets during those years? If so they didn't order any Washington Quarters. Or maybe the Red Book has the quantities minted wrong? Any information is appreciated.

meos1

Yep you could order just a single denomination if thats what tripped your trigger.

Dan Watson

meos1

Thats one of the point of information that fuels my desire for eary proof sets that are in the original packaging. I don't think they will make more of them and as the collector cut them up for TPG the numbers will fall drastically. And just as you said the number support that the set is the only way to have obtained the quarter.

Dan Watson

Merc

Good luck in finding one of these early proof sets in the origional box. I've seen 1 in the past 4 years. Well, I didn't really see it. The box just contained the cellophane holders. The coins had been removed. If you have one in the origional box, please show a picture.

Conder101

Yes you could order individual coins, in fact that was how they were offered, not as "sets". They were not offered as sets (and sets only) until 1950. The mintage figure for the sets 1936 - 42 that you see in the Redbook is the theoretical maximum number of sets that could be assembled. You will find that it is ALWAYS the same as the mintage for the lowest mintage individual coin.

merz2

Carl
As you have been told,you are correct.They were indeed sold as single denomination coins.

Russ

And, yet another wrinkle added to my old brain.

Russ, NCNE

JrGMan2004

Think about it, it was the time of the Great Depression... people didn't have much money to buy coins at a premium over face value... so they might get one or two of the smaller denom coins... I would bet a lot fewer would have sold, if they had only been able to buy in 5-coin sets...

BillJones

According to an article in a recemt issue of "Coin Values" magazine (the Coin World replacement for Trends), one could buy individual coins after one had purchased one complete set. For that reason the mintages were different for each denomination. The set totals cited in the Red Book are the number of possible sets. That number would be limited by the coin that had the lowest mintage. For example in 1936 the quarter was the coin with the lowest mintage so that denomination set the number of possible sets.

solid

I love those '36-'42 proof coins, and hope to complete the entire set one day.

I have all of the Mercury dimes and Jefferson nickels.

Still need all of the cents, all of the quarters, 2 Buffalos and 6 halves.

One of these days...

After that, I will probably move backwards into the early Buffalo and Lincoln matte proofs.

Ken