Proof sets sold 1892-1896. Will catalog quantites require minor revision?
RogerB
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The extract below is from a 13-page list of all known buyers of US Mint proof sets from 1892 through 1896, plus an incomplete list for 1897.
The cover letter states in part:
“…The search developed the fact, that in the years named the entries made (except from October 1, 1896) was as cash received, and that the majority of the purchasers were visitors to the Mint…. I considered it of great importance to know who the people were, that got proof coins.”
Herman Kretz,
Superintendent"
The period from Oct 1, 1896 to Dec 31, 1896 showed 181 purchasers by name and address. It is likely that distribution in prior years was similar.
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Comments
Evidently, the Mint did not keep a full list of purchasers until 1896. They obviously had a few names, though.
Also, the document does not mention sets for the Mint Cabinet of Coins and Ores, or diplomatic use. So I presume these are only coins sold for unofficial use.
Several dealers were noted as buying from 5 to 40 sets each year.
Haven't found any purchasers lists earlier than this one. Most reports are for proofs made by quarter, or combined with medals. There are some production ledgers that show deliveries by date, but they don;t tell us anything about the buyers. There are also some journals that list buyers of medals and proof coins, but they are also later years.
There is much more information for the 1896-1907 period than either before or after.
Here's a small excerpt from an "Index to orders fro minor coin proofs and medals, 1894-1904."
As you can see, payment amounts are inconsistent and we can't tell much about what was ordered - except that very small orders were for minor coins, plus postage. We don;t know much about how the clerks handled and tracked orders by mail or in person.
It would be interesting to find documents which identify who the purchasers of 19th and early 20th century proof sets were. If a list of buyers could be assembled, it would then be interesting to inquire of their children, grandchildren, etc. if the proof coins/sets were still in the family or had been previously sold or otherwise disposed of. Many probably would not respond to any inquiry, but maybe a few would. Determining the ownership history of these coins would be interesting.
It is amazing what the archives do hold... sure, a lot of detail we would like to know, is not there... but it is surprising how much has been saved. Cheers, RickO
The pieces saved are only a small part of the whole of information that was once kept. For nearly all series & subject, we have just scattered pieces. A good example are the official coinage ledgers kept by all mints and Mint HQ from at least 1820 forward. We have about 6 of these.