Chris, I still need to send it to PCGS but quite a few people have contacted me about buying it. It’ll stay where it is for the time being (except when it goes to PCGS).
I'd do individual consecutive holders.
I have a 1940 PS in the NGC multi holder and frankly, liked it better in the old blue Capitol plastic proof set holder.
The spacing on the multi holder is awkward with all the space around the coins. One would think that a TPG could have a holder that is coin size.
I still debate getting a Cap Plastic blue holder and putting it back like it was.
@ADG said:
Bought a 1954 proof set many years ago. Coins came in cellophane packets stapled together. Put them in a Capitol holder. Don't ask how many staples.
The Mint used to sell proof coins individually, but I'm guessing that most people bought all of the coins as a set. I remember my grandfather had some of these in the cellophane envelopes. Most of the cello envelopes I've ever seen had turned yellowish, so this set has been stored exceptionally well.
Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally
The packaging for pre-1950 Proof coins has been an enthusiastically discussed topic here for quite a long time, perhaps since before the OP was born!! Despite quite a bit of research by others(and some by me) I have yet to see any definitive answer describing how the Mint mailed coins to customers, something from archived Mint reports or a publication contemporary to the time period in question. What we have by way of "proof" is anecdotal accounts given by some members and evidence from independent researchers about what they have seen. Absent that I tend to remain skeptical of reports which claim to be "original" in nature. The OP has asserted that the cello pouches seem to be different in nature than what he has seen from 1950-1954 sets, but even within that time period there were slight variations and it is possible/probable that any pouches with similar characteristics may have already been destroyed.
Certainty about the 1936-1942 issues would be nice and I've always thought someone like @PhillyJoe could help with this riddle. I've met a few of the really big searchers at shows, Jeff Werlin and Val Webb, and they couldn't provide a definitive answer to this puzzle. To be honest, I doubt we will ever have any absolute answer and time is growing short.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Neat set. Just saw the Boston collection on Heritage. That auction has hundreds of unopened 40's and 50's proof and mint sets. Also, hundreds of bank rolls from 40' and 50's. Incredible to have so many come to market at the same time.
Edit, The proof and mint sets are mainly 1950 and up to 1959. The 1942 sets were opened and graded. There are some unmarked proof sets so gamblers welcome.
That 1942 Proof Set looks like just the sort of evidence needed to verify the packaging they came in. The letter is really cool piece of Exonumia and it would be nice to know what the packaging inside of the box was like.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Yes, here they are if anyone is wondering. I'll use my most recent pics. This set is, to my knowledge, the finest original Proof set of the 1936-1942 era. As it stands now, this is the #8 all time set for 1942, original or not (all sets above are "non-original" sets.
Update on this set - it was recently sent to CAC and the friend who submitted it for me let me know today all of the five coins passed, further cementing this set's status as one of the best original sets of the era.
I don't believe the cert pages are currently live over at CAC, but when they are I'll double check all of the coins did bean.
Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
Other than the original cello, what were these packaged in? I once bought an early 50's proof set that was in a small square box with the cellos wrapped in tissue inside the box. I wonder if that is where the blue came from?
Nice grades all around....still a shame about the Washington.
Thanks all, huge win for this group. Absolutely one of the hallmarks of my collection, for several reasons. > @GaCoinGuy said:
Other than the original cello, what were these packaged in? I once bought an early 50's proof set that was in a small square box with the cellos wrapped in tissue inside the box. I wonder if that is where the blue came from?
Nice grades all around....still a shame about the Washington.
These came in packaging generally similar to the 1950s, but it wasn't totally standard and the boxes were smaller on average. Lots of nuances with it, but chances are it came in a box and was ordered as a five coin set.
What was the shame on the quarter - it not grading 68?
@FlyingAl said:
Thanks all, huge win for this group. Absolutely one of the hallmarks of my collection, for several reasons. > @GaCoinGuy said:
Other than the original cello, what were these packaged in? I once bought an early 50's proof set that was in a small square box with the cellos wrapped in tissue inside the box. I wonder if that is where the blue came from?
Nice grades all around....still a shame about the Washington.
These came in packaging generally similar to the 1950s, but it wasn't totally standard and the boxes were smaller on average. Lots of nuances with it, but chances are it came in a box and was ordered as a five coin set.
What was the shame on the quarter - it not grading 68?
I bet it will grade 68 if you send it to NGC, but I'm not sure you would want to at this point.
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@FlyingAl said:
Thanks all, huge win for this group. Absolutely one of the hallmarks of my collection, for several reasons.
These came in packaging generally similar to the 1950s, but it wasn't totally standard and the boxes were smaller on average. Lots of nuances with it, but chances are it came in a box and was ordered as a five coin set.
Similar to this set from 1953?
I picked it up a few months back. The set was wrapped in tissue inside the small box, and handled prior. I'm not sure as to how it was stored, but the cello packaging was separating & breaking apart as I inspected it.
Anyway, congratulations on your original set, what a find!
.
@Catbert said: @Rc5280 Helpful hint. Did you look at the original post that started this thread?
Yes I went back to take another look, and the cello is different, and it held up better than the '53 set.
My greater point above was in relation to the box more than the cello fyi(edit).
Thanks for setting me straight.
Comments
Chris, I still need to send it to PCGS but quite a few people have contacted me about buying it. It’ll stay where it is for the time being (except when it goes to PCGS).
Coin Photography
I'd do individual consecutive holders.
I have a 1940 PS in the NGC multi holder and frankly, liked it better in the old blue Capitol plastic proof set holder.
The spacing on the multi holder is awkward with all the space around the coins. One would think that a TPG could have a holder that is coin size.
I still debate getting a Cap Plastic blue holder and putting it back like it was.
As a newbie I'm interested to know where the blue color on the half dollar came from.
Nice looking set! I especially like that clean Merc and the blue Walker...... Shame about the Washington, though.
Any number of sources....most likely from the composition of the original packaging (box or envelope).
Bought a 1954 proof set many years ago. Coins came in cellophane packets stapled together. Put them in a Capitol holder. Don't ask how many staples.
How many staples?
The Mint used to sell proof coins individually, but I'm guessing that most people bought all of the coins as a set. I remember my grandfather had some of these in the cellophane envelopes. Most of the cello envelopes I've ever seen had turned yellowish, so this set has been stored exceptionally well.
I knew it would happen.
The packaging for pre-1950 Proof coins has been an enthusiastically discussed topic here for quite a long time, perhaps since before the OP was born!!
Despite quite a bit of research by others(and some by me) I have yet to see any definitive answer describing how the Mint mailed coins to customers, something from archived Mint reports or a publication contemporary to the time period in question. What we have by way of "proof" is anecdotal accounts given by some members and evidence from independent researchers about what they have seen. Absent that I tend to remain skeptical of reports which claim to be "original" in nature. The OP has asserted that the cello pouches seem to be different in nature than what he has seen from 1950-1954 sets, but even within that time period there were slight variations and it is possible/probable that any pouches with similar characteristics may have already been destroyed.
Certainty about the 1936-1942 issues would be nice and I've always thought someone like @PhillyJoe could help with this riddle. I've met a few of the really big searchers at shows, Jeff Werlin and Val Webb, and they couldn't provide a definitive answer to this puzzle. To be honest, I doubt we will ever have any absolute answer and time is growing short.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Neat set. Just saw the Boston collection on Heritage. That auction has hundreds of unopened 40's and 50's proof and mint sets. Also, hundreds of bank rolls from 40' and 50's. Incredible to have so many come to market at the same time.
Edit, The proof and mint sets are mainly 1950 and up to 1959. The 1942 sets were opened and graded. There are some unmarked proof sets so gamblers welcome.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
That 1942 Proof Set looks like just the sort of evidence needed to verify the packaging they came in. The letter is really cool piece of Exonumia and it would be nice to know what the packaging inside of the box was like.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Nice set
amazing results posted in another thread .... SCORE
Yes, here they are if anyone is wondering. I'll use my most recent pics. This set is, to my knowledge, the finest original Proof set of the 1936-1942 era. As it stands now, this is the #8 all time set for 1942, original or not (all sets above are "non-original" sets.
Half - PCGS PR68
.
.
Quarter - PCGS PR67+
Dime - PCGS PR67+
.
.
Nickel - PCGS PR67
.
.
Cent - PCGS PR66RD
Coin Photography
Good for you! Great results!
My current "Box of 20"
@FlyingAl
I was against sending them in. You made the right call.
Martin
That blue on the half is almost unique. At least I've never seen such a blue toning that rich.
Update on this set - it was recently sent to CAC and the friend who submitted it for me let me know today all of the five coins passed, further cementing this set's status as one of the best original sets of the era.
I don't believe the cert pages are currently live over at CAC, but when they are I'll double check all of the coins did bean.
Edit - can confirm all five beaned!
Coin Photography
Fantastic set! I'm curious where you found it?
Well done.
what a score!
Well played
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
A blast from the past!
This was an eBay buy.
Coin Photography
Can you post pics of the CAC set?
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
He’s already posted outstanding pictures of the coins. Are pictures of the holders and CAC stickers that important?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Not at the moment, the coins are being shipped back.
Coin Photography
Fair enough. My bad.
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Other than the original cello, what were these packaged in? I once bought an early 50's proof set that was in a small square box with the cellos wrapped in tissue inside the box. I wonder if that is where the blue came from?
Nice grades all around....still a shame about the Washington.
Nice Proof Set!
Well Done!!
Congratulations Alex!
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Very nice score I am happy for you!
Beautiful set.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
JWP PROMETHIUS88
Congrats—that’s a fantastic outcome!
Thanks all, huge win for this group. Absolutely one of the hallmarks of my collection, for several reasons. > @GaCoinGuy said:
These came in packaging generally similar to the 1950s, but it wasn't totally standard and the boxes were smaller on average. Lots of nuances with it, but chances are it came in a box and was ordered as a five coin set.
What was the shame on the quarter - it not grading 68?
Coin Photography
I bet it will grade 68 if you send it to NGC, but I'm not sure you would want to at this point.
Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Similar to this set from 1953?
I picked it up a few months back. The set was wrapped in tissue inside the small box, and handled prior. I'm not sure as to how it was stored, but the cello packaging was separating & breaking apart as I inspected it.
Anyway, congratulations on your original set, what a find!
.
@Rc5280 Helpful hint. Did you look at the original post that started this thread?
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Yes I went back to take another look, and the cello is different, and it held up better than the '53 set.
My greater point above was in relation to the box more than the cello fyi(edit).
Thanks for setting me straight.
Very impressive indeed. This is the oldest mint set I've ever seen. Glad you are keeping it.
Formerly known as deadmunny
Positive transactions with: dcarr, JWP, Cent1225, slantycouch, dontippet, Gerard, Scrapman1077, USMC_6115, rah1959
It’s actually a Proof set.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996