How did a collector buy a proof Half Dime in 1864?
Coinstartled
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Mintage under 500. Could a collector in say Chicago get a hold of this coin and by what means?
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Write a letter to the US Mint and enclose payment.
The mint did take orders for proofs; I am not exactly sure what their procedure was.
See this post by @Rittenhouse from February 2018 on early proofs:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/11911883/#Comment_11911883
There was a price list for proof coins published in 1858. Anyone could write to the Philadelphia Mint (or go there) and buy what they wanted. For mail orders, purchasers had to include return postage and insurance/registered mail. It seems that most sets were sold to visitors or people who came to the mint specifically to buy new coins and proofs.
My guess would have been that certain Philadelphia numismatists and jewelers bought a lot of the early proof production and they in turn supplied the coins to recurring customers.
Better yet, how did they manage to keep them in mint condition?
It is remarkable that coins purchased so long ago are so well preserved....obviously cared for through several generations and long before slabs or airtites. Cheers, RickO
Cotton envelopes.