19th century proof coinage
kevinj
Posts: 989 ✭✭✭
In a recent 'discussion' with R.W. Julian (aka denga), Rob stated that the belief that proof coins were used for diplomatic presentation was the exception and not the rule.
firstMint has previously stated "The two (of four) 1834-35 diplomatic sets, ordered by the State Dept. are the only coin sets that were ever "presented"
I would agree and disagree with these statements.
We all know the story of several proofs being struck in 1834 for diplomatic presentation, one of which was presented to the King of Siam, with the objective of improving trade relations.
Between 1835 and 1857, there is little documentation on the number of proofs struck and sold, and who they were sold to. We know that the Mint began purchasing a proof set every year starting in 1840 for the Mint Collection. I believe most of the other information is derived from coins that are pedigreed back to when they were purchased from the Mint. In another example, Schilke acquired a seven-piece 1842 proof set in the middle 20th century. The set was reportedly found in a Revolutionary War-era house that was the residence of a former Connecticut governor.
As we do not have Mint documentation on where the proofs from 1835 through 1857 were distributed, we cannot absolutely conclude as to whether the Mint used proof sets for diplomatic presentation or possibly for trade for proof coins from other countries. Remember, Chief Coiner Franklin Peale visited many foreign mints in the mid-1830s to study their technology and methods. Is it possible that he made and kept connection to those mints, sent them coins? William DuBois was the curator to the Mint Cabinet, he was known to trade coins for coins he wanted, is it possible he traded coins for foreign coins?
I need to explore this further, checking the Peale papers and also write the foreign mints to see if they have early American proof coins. I will also check the Smithsonian, to see if they have early foreign proofs, that might give me a clue. I dove into early proofs in the Liberty Seated Dollar book, I need to expand this in the upcoming Liberty Seated half dime book.
In some examples of coins being traded, or ending up in foreign countries,
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Below is a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury James Guthrie from Alexander Vattemen, dated January 18, 1855 regarding the Paris Exposition. I believe he was able to take 1855 proof sets for the exposition, that I believe were left in Paris, need to check this.
I have the honor of enclosing herewith a copy of the appeal, made by the American Commission to the World's Fair to be held in the City of Paris, to Public Authorities to allow me on this occasion to address you and humbly request to complete the collection of American Coins from 1652 to the present time presented by Congress to the American Library and Museum of the City of Paris. We want those issues from 1850 to 1855. Will you be kind enough to authorize the Director of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia to give us a series of all the coins from the half cents to the largest gold piece, and if I was not afraid to ask to much I would beg for a duplicate copy of each of them so as to show both sides at once, as it is the case with the French Coins. I have had the honor of addressing to you last year in the name of the Minister of Finance.
In November of 1850, I received from Franklin Peale Esq, Chief Coiner a very valuable series of American Historical Medals destined likewise for our American Library, it would be very important to complete the series all that has been struck in the United States since 1850.
All these are, you know sir, destined to the American Library and Museum. We are erecting in the Metropolis of the civilized world to the glory of the genius and intellectual power of the United States. No doubt that appreciating the importance of such an establishment in the Old World. You will joyfully answer to my humble call and cooperate with in our efforts to present America to Europe in all her beauties, riches, and power"
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The following is a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCullock from the Director of the Mint James Pollock dated December 30, 1865, regarding proof coins for the Netherlands.
Your letter of the 29th inst, in ference to an exchange of the coins of the U.S. for an like collection made from the coinage of the Netherlands has been received.
It will give me much pleasure to forward the coins of the U.S. in exchange, but respectfully suggest that this be postponed until the proof sets of 1866 with the motto included can be prepared, they will be ready for delivery sometime in January next about the 20th. If however the Netherlands Minister desires the exchange to be made at once, I will forward the proof coins of 1865, gold & silver, now on hand.
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Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCullock from the Director of the Mint James Pollock dated January 17, 1866, regarding a full proof set being traded for a proof set from the Netherlands.
In compliance with your request in letter of 29th December last, I enclose full proof sets of the gold and silver coins of the United States for the year 1866 (motto coins included) to exchange for like collection from the coinage of the Netherlands. The value of the coins now sent is $43.57 in details as follows.
....
This amount in gold and silver coins you will please direct to be sent to me, to reimburse the Treasurer of the Mint, or if the Exchange of coins are sent here for our Cabinet, then the difference in value of the exchange pieces as proposed by the Minister of the Netherlands.
-----------------------------------------
Letter to the Director of the Mint James Pollock from the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury dated January 23, 1866, regarding a full proof set being traded for a proof set from Switzerland.
Your letter of the 22nd instant is received transmitting full proof sets of the coins of the United States to be forwarded through the Secretary of State for deposit in the Federal Cabinet of Switzerland
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Perhaps the term "diplomatic presentation" is to limited, as we all tend to think of the proof sets struck in 1834 for diplomatic presentation. The objective being to include those coins presented to foreign countries for some reason, such as trade for their coins.
I will need to research this a bit more to see the level of U.S. proof coins that ended up being given/sent to foreign countries during the 19th century.
I would agree that the majority of proof coins during the 19th century were sold to collectors, and that it was not the general practice to give/trade them with foreign countries, but that it still happened, and that we need to research more to understand the level that it happened.
Kevin
firstMint has previously stated "The two (of four) 1834-35 diplomatic sets, ordered by the State Dept. are the only coin sets that were ever "presented"
I would agree and disagree with these statements.
We all know the story of several proofs being struck in 1834 for diplomatic presentation, one of which was presented to the King of Siam, with the objective of improving trade relations.
Between 1835 and 1857, there is little documentation on the number of proofs struck and sold, and who they were sold to. We know that the Mint began purchasing a proof set every year starting in 1840 for the Mint Collection. I believe most of the other information is derived from coins that are pedigreed back to when they were purchased from the Mint. In another example, Schilke acquired a seven-piece 1842 proof set in the middle 20th century. The set was reportedly found in a Revolutionary War-era house that was the residence of a former Connecticut governor.
As we do not have Mint documentation on where the proofs from 1835 through 1857 were distributed, we cannot absolutely conclude as to whether the Mint used proof sets for diplomatic presentation or possibly for trade for proof coins from other countries. Remember, Chief Coiner Franklin Peale visited many foreign mints in the mid-1830s to study their technology and methods. Is it possible that he made and kept connection to those mints, sent them coins? William DuBois was the curator to the Mint Cabinet, he was known to trade coins for coins he wanted, is it possible he traded coins for foreign coins?
I need to explore this further, checking the Peale papers and also write the foreign mints to see if they have early American proof coins. I will also check the Smithsonian, to see if they have early foreign proofs, that might give me a clue. I dove into early proofs in the Liberty Seated Dollar book, I need to expand this in the upcoming Liberty Seated half dime book.
In some examples of coins being traded, or ending up in foreign countries,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury James Guthrie from Alexander Vattemen, dated January 18, 1855 regarding the Paris Exposition. I believe he was able to take 1855 proof sets for the exposition, that I believe were left in Paris, need to check this.
I have the honor of enclosing herewith a copy of the appeal, made by the American Commission to the World's Fair to be held in the City of Paris, to Public Authorities to allow me on this occasion to address you and humbly request to complete the collection of American Coins from 1652 to the present time presented by Congress to the American Library and Museum of the City of Paris. We want those issues from 1850 to 1855. Will you be kind enough to authorize the Director of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia to give us a series of all the coins from the half cents to the largest gold piece, and if I was not afraid to ask to much I would beg for a duplicate copy of each of them so as to show both sides at once, as it is the case with the French Coins. I have had the honor of addressing to you last year in the name of the Minister of Finance.
In November of 1850, I received from Franklin Peale Esq, Chief Coiner a very valuable series of American Historical Medals destined likewise for our American Library, it would be very important to complete the series all that has been struck in the United States since 1850.
All these are, you know sir, destined to the American Library and Museum. We are erecting in the Metropolis of the civilized world to the glory of the genius and intellectual power of the United States. No doubt that appreciating the importance of such an establishment in the Old World. You will joyfully answer to my humble call and cooperate with in our efforts to present America to Europe in all her beauties, riches, and power"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCullock from the Director of the Mint James Pollock dated December 30, 1865, regarding proof coins for the Netherlands.
Your letter of the 29th inst, in ference to an exchange of the coins of the U.S. for an like collection made from the coinage of the Netherlands has been received.
It will give me much pleasure to forward the coins of the U.S. in exchange, but respectfully suggest that this be postponed until the proof sets of 1866 with the motto included can be prepared, they will be ready for delivery sometime in January next about the 20th. If however the Netherlands Minister desires the exchange to be made at once, I will forward the proof coins of 1865, gold & silver, now on hand.
------------------------------------
Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCullock from the Director of the Mint James Pollock dated January 17, 1866, regarding a full proof set being traded for a proof set from the Netherlands.
In compliance with your request in letter of 29th December last, I enclose full proof sets of the gold and silver coins of the United States for the year 1866 (motto coins included) to exchange for like collection from the coinage of the Netherlands. The value of the coins now sent is $43.57 in details as follows.
....
This amount in gold and silver coins you will please direct to be sent to me, to reimburse the Treasurer of the Mint, or if the Exchange of coins are sent here for our Cabinet, then the difference in value of the exchange pieces as proposed by the Minister of the Netherlands.
-----------------------------------------
Letter to the Director of the Mint James Pollock from the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury dated January 23, 1866, regarding a full proof set being traded for a proof set from Switzerland.
Your letter of the 22nd instant is received transmitting full proof sets of the coins of the United States to be forwarded through the Secretary of State for deposit in the Federal Cabinet of Switzerland
-----------------------------------------------
Perhaps the term "diplomatic presentation" is to limited, as we all tend to think of the proof sets struck in 1834 for diplomatic presentation. The objective being to include those coins presented to foreign countries for some reason, such as trade for their coins.
I will need to research this a bit more to see the level of U.S. proof coins that ended up being given/sent to foreign countries during the 19th century.
I would agree that the majority of proof coins during the 19th century were sold to collectors, and that it was not the general practice to give/trade them with foreign countries, but that it still happened, and that we need to research more to understand the level that it happened.
Kevin
Kevin J Flynn
0
Comments
Having read most of the articles on this, I have not seen any archive records reflecting directives from Snowden to this effect. Nor have I seen the same in the archives. Obviously I could have missed it though.
What I do know is that in 1857, we do not know when the proof coins were struck, in what quantity, and who they were sold to. It is possible that we are drawing our conclusion on our first knowledge on the subject in 1858, when we see the delivery dates.
Second, and more interesting is a the following letter to the Director of the Mint James Snowden from the Melter and Refiner James Booth dated December 17, 1859, regarding master and experimental coins. Booth was always presenting his opinion on many different subjects during his tenure at the Mint. In point number 1, Booth suggests proof coins always be struck at the beginning of the year. Why would he suggest this if it was already directed by Snowden. Maybe Booth did not read or know of the directive, but it seems suspicious.
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There is a growing taste for collecting coins, evidenced by the demand this year for 800 sets of silver master coins and 80 sets of the gold and by the demand for specimens of our past coinage whether gold, silver, or copper.
The desire for collecting coins, is attended by an indirect improvement in the public taste for the Fine Arts, and by the development of reservation for the past, without being necessarily accompanied by objectionalbe features.
In consideration of these facts and inferences, I suggest the following plan by which numismatic taste may be gratified, without expense to the mint, and without serious inconvenience to its officers.
1. That sets of master coins be struck as soon after the commencement of the year as the business of the mint will permit, and the sets delivered upon request, as neretofore, with additional charges to coverthe cost of the special preparation as suggested by the Director. The demand of the present year being taken as the 1,000 silver and 100 gold sets might be struck and perhaps 2,000 cents.
2. Since there has been expanded upon experimental dies a large amount of art, both in design and execution, it would be desirable that this should not be lost to the public taste. moreover such experiments should be matters of history, as well as the actual coinage. I therefore suggest that, when such dies are tested by trial pieces and after defects, say 1,000, be struck in copper or the cent metal, and these carefully reserved until the master coins are issued at the beginning of the following year when the trial pieces maybe disposed of at the same time in the same manner, vie one set to each applicant and at a charge fully remunerative to the government. I suggest copper or copper nickel, because these metals are either better at least or equally well adapted to convey the artist's skill and the history of the experiment, and are moveover unattended by an unnecessary withholding of bullion from immediate use.
3. I further suggestion that, as it is very desirable to have a catalogue of the mint cabinet published, for the sake of visitors, as well as of numismatist, it should be issued at a charge to the cabinet fund, and that the receipts from its sale at a moderate but positively remunerating price, be placed to the credit of the same fund. The profits arising from the issue of master coins and trial pieces may be put, either to the ordinary act or to the credit of the cabinet fund.
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I need to go back and check the archives for the end of 57 or beginning of 58 to see if there is any communication on this subject.
Kevin
When the 1856 Flying Eagle were struck, many were distributed to congress members.
The Engraver and Chief Coiner frequently kept examples of specimen coins
Adam Eckfeldt started the whole Mint collection by donating his collection to the Mint. He had purchased coins he struck as specimen coins.
Chief Engraver Longacre had several rarities including the unique 1849 Twenty Dollar gold coin that was part of his estate sale that is now in the Smithsonian.
Chief Coiner and later Superintendent A.L. Snowden had many great rarities struck and later sold
Director of the Mint Linderman kept many great rarities including an 1804 Dollar Type III, 1868 alum proof sets to name a few
Chief Engraver Charles Barber was known to have many of the great patterns as part of his estate
Chief Engraver John Sinnock was known to have several rarities, such as several commems struck as matte proofs
In 1873, several congressmen contacted Linderman to secure patterns of the Trade Dollars
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo had a unique 1916 Standing Liberty quarter pattern in his estate
Congressmen were writing the Director in 1865 to see if they could purchase the 1865 dime, quarter, and half experimental coins with the IGWT on the back.
Several of the 1868 Alum pattern proof sets were distributed to government officials
In Don Taxey's Counterfeits, Mis-struck, and Unofficial U.S. Coins under Famous Forgeries of the U.S. Mint, Taxey states on page 103, that on October 22, 1863, the Secretary of the Treasury ordered a set of experimental coins for the years 1862 and 1863 to be furnished to the Hon. George Opdyke, Mayor of New York. These consisting of the dollar, half dollar, and quarter, all with IN GOD WE TRUST on the reverse.
These are some of the more obvious examples of distribution of proof coins to government, mint officials, mint employees.
Kevin
<< <i>I believe the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris holds (or held at one time) 1850 U.S. proof issues, which likely came from Vattemare. >>
Thanks, good to know