How were proof sets sold in the late 1800s--early 1900s?

kiyote

I always wondered that-- were they even advertised? Were they sold to the public at large or were proof sets something only given to visiting dignataries and congressmen?

rhedden

Great question. I would suppose that one had to write a letter to the mint requesting proof coins, and subsequently pay for them upon delivery. Just a guess- no reliable information to go on.

magikbilly

I think you could get indidual coins after buying a set - something like that.

Carl W. will know.

Eric

Timbuk3

I'd like to know !!!

lasvegasteddy

i've read
you could walk up to a counter at the mint and ask to acquire them
wasn't much of a premium to boot
there was a thread awhile ago with pictures of a 1914 proof set that was mailed...i'll see if that thread is alive
i know early on...1790's...you'd supply the mint with foreign coins and they would mint us coins for you

lasvegasteddy

original 1914 proof set as requested by mail...
1914 proof set

denga

<< <i>I always wondered that-- were they even advertised? Were they sold to the public at large or were proof sets something only given to visiting dignataries and congressmen? >>



Even in the earliest days, the 1820s, proof coins were available to the public. There
was little interest, however, until the mid 1850s. The figures shown in the Red Book
indicate the number of proof coins struck and it is safe to assume that the number
sold to collectors was pretty close to that figure. Sets were, on rare occasion, presented
to dignitaries but this was the exception and not the rule.

kiyote

<< <i>original 1914 proof set as requested by mail...
1914 proof set >>



Thanks for sharing! Needless to say... WOW.

lasvegasteddy

i seem to recall someone off the street walking up and buying 4 1827 quarters in proof

BillJones

From what I have read, Proof coins were usually sold in the groups. The minor coins (cent, nickel and nickel three cent piece if there was one) were sold as the group. The silver coins (half dime, if there was one, dime, quarter, half dollar and silver dollar were an other group. And the gold coins were sold as group. Some single coins were sold or given out, but sets were more the order of the day.

Here's an interesting statistic about 1909 Proof coins. If you look at the Red Book the 1909 Proof Liberty Nickel has a mintage of 4,763, which is quite high for the period. The reason for this is that there were three types of Proof cents minted that year, Indian (2.500) 1909-VDB (1,194) and 1909 Plain (2,352). If you add those you come up with 6,046 cents. Although some cents were sold separately, there seems to have been a large number of two piece sets sold which resulted in a large mintage (for the period) of Proof nickels.

19Lyds

I don't think the concept of offering a Proof Set came about until the offerings of 1950. Of course I could be wrong but I seem to recall that folks could order individual coins which made up a set but the set itself was not necessarily offered. Or at the very minimu not very popular.

This isn't to say that sets do not exist since folks know that they do but I think those sets were assembled except for the rare occasion when a set was produced for a dignitary or US Mint Official.

lasvegasteddy

actually 1936 was kick off as a proof set line up...ceased during ww2...then refired up in 1950 and is still running strong except those black out years of 65-66-67 which sms was only option

BillJones

<< <i>This isn't to say that sets do not exist since folks know that they do but I think those sets were assembled except for the rare occasion when a set was produced for a dignitary or US Mint Official. >>



From what I've read the coins were sold in groups as I stated in my posts. Check out the mintages for Proof Barber coins. You will see the same or virtually the same mintages for the dime quarter and half dollar.

lasvegasteddy

kinda a drag kick off year was in 36...not 35 as we'd have those peace dollars that perhaps would of carried through like trade dollars as proof only pieces too till shut down for the war in 42'

too...ending in 42'...had they only extended 1 year we'd see 43 proof steel lincolns too...oh well

BillJones

<< <i>too...ending in 42'...had they only extended 1 year we'd see 43 proof steel lincolns too...oh well >>



I'm not sure how Proof coins would have worked given that the 1943 cents were steel with a zinc coating.

19Lyds

<< <i>

<< <i>This isn't to say that sets do not exist since folks know that they do but I think those sets were assembled except for the rare occasion when a set was produced for a dignitary or US Mint Official. >>



From what I've read the coins were sold in groups as I stated in my posts. Check out the mintages for Proof Barber coins. You will see the same or virtually the same mintages for the dime quarter and half dollar. >>

Selling these in groups is still not the same as selling complete proof sets. Or is that wrong Bill?

Dentuck

See chapter 1 of David W. Lange's Guide Book of Modern U.S. Proof Coin Sets, 2nd edition.

golfer72

Great thread guys. That 1914 set is awesome!

denga

<< <i>I don't think the concept of offering a Proof Set came about until the offerings of 1950. Of course I could be wrong but I seem to recall that folks could order individual coins which made up a set but the set itself was not necessarily offered. Or at the very minimu not very popular.

This isn't to say that sets do not exist since folks know that they do but I think those sets were assembled except for the rare occasion when a set was produced for a dignitary or US Mint Official. >>



Prior to 1858 proof coins were normally sold individually though sometimes sets
were assembled by request. In late 1857 Mint Director James Ross Snowden,
realizing the time involved in selling individual coins, ordered that full sets be
made available as soon as possible in a given year. Prior to 1860 all proof coins,
and sets, were sold at face value except when a case was involved (the 1840s
under Franklin Peale as chief coiner).

Beginning in 1860 a premium was charged on all proof coins. For 1860 and 1861
sets or individual coins could be ordered but in 1862 Mint Director Pollock ordered
that only complete sets could be sold. The “Silver” set always contained all of the
silver coins plus any minor coins. The “Gold” set contained only gold. Separate
minor sets were introduced in 1865 but these coins also remained part of a Silver
proof set.

About 1880 the rules were relaxed for the gold sets, allowing either sets or individual
coins.

On occasion, as in 1878 for the Morgan dollar or 1864 for the two cent piece,
collectors were allowed to purchase individual coins when a new design was
introduced in mid year. (The regular Silver set in 1878, for example, contained
the Trade dollar.)

coindeuce

Prior to 1950 and perhaps as early as 1860, the Mint had no source vendor of specialized packaging for complete Proof sets. The individual coins would have been wrapped in tissue and placed in a 2 X 2 paper coin envelope, and mailed in a plain brown envelope.