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specimens from each mint the precious metal value of the coins in a mint set could exceed the value of a proof set for common dates. Another exception is the 1996 mint set, which, in addition to specimens from the
Philadelphia and Denver mints, contained a Roosevelt dime from the West Point mint (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Roosevelt dime) and which was available only in this mint set. From 1965 to 1967 the mint did not sell proof or uncirculated coins, but only a hybrid product, "special mint sets", none of which are particularly valuable. From 2005 through 2010 the U.S. Mint used a special "satin finish" on the coins in its
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matte proofs. Proof coins of the early 19th century even appear to be scratched, but it was part of the production process. The term "proof" refers to the process by which the coins are made and not to the condition of the coin. Certification agencies can grade and assign numerical ratings for proof coins. A PR70 coin is the highest grade possible for a proof coin and indicates a perfect example, with PR69 and lower grades reflecting some deficiency in the strike, centering, details, or other aspect of the coin.
271:. Since 1975, the San Francisco Mint has been used almost exclusively for proof coinage, with the exception of the Susan B. Anthony dollar from 1979–81 and 1999, and a portion of the mintage of cents in the early 1980s. The dollars and quarters bear a mint mark of an "S", but the cents are otherwise indistinguishable from those minted at Philadelphia (which bear no mint marks, unlike those years' proof cents from San Francisco and circulation cents from Denver).
98:
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Sales of the souvenir sets ended in 1998 with the launch of the 50 State quarters. Finally, individual dealers have made unofficial "year sets", privately packaging all denominations of a certain date. The latter have no value beyond their individual coins. Members of the public should be careful to understand what products they are being offered, and that, until supplies are exhausted, current and previous mint and proof sets are available directly from the mint.
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of the date on the
Lincoln cent. The 1979-S and 1981-S sets each come in either a "Type I" or a "Type II" version, where on all coins the "S" mint mark is either "filled" (also known as the "blob" mint mark) or "clear". 1964 has a design variation where the President's portrait on the Kennedy half-dollar has "accented hair". The design was modified early in the production (reputedly at the request of
365:. From 1992 to 2018, the silver coins in silver proof sets contained “coin silver,” 90% silver and 10% copper, the same silver content as coins minted through 1964. Beginning in 2019, silver coins in silver proof sets were issued in “fine silver,” 99.9% silver, the same silver content as silver bullion coins.
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that have been specially packaged, and are generally neither as expensive nor as valuable as proofs. There are some exceptions, however. Those produced from 1947 to 1958 (none were made in 1950) were double sets packaged in cardboard holders and have good collector demand. Because mint sets contain
345:
Not as rare (or as expensive) are proof sets issued with coin varieties that are less common than those found in other sets issued in the same year. These include the 1960 and 1970-S sets, both of which are found in either a "small date" or "large date" variety, which refers to the size and position
243:
bag. 1955 saw both the original "box" packaging and introduced the flat-pack, where the coins were sealed in cellophane and presented in an envelope. The flat-pack packaging continued through 1964, after which the coins were sealed in various styles of hard plasticized cases. (From 1965 to 1967 the
138:
The dies for making modern proof coins are often treated with chemicals to make certain parts of the design take on a frosted appearance, with the polished fields taking on a mirror finish. Several other methods have been used in the past to achieve this effect, including sand blasting the dies, and
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Most proof coins are double struck under higher pressure. This does not normally result in doubling that is readily observable, but does result in the devices being struck fully, resulting in intricate elements of the original die being present on the proof that may not be present in such detail on
380:
The
Philadelphia and Denver mints also sold annual "souvenir sets" from their gift shops since 1973 (1972 for Denver). These are not mint sets and generally not of high collectable value, although the 1982 and 1983 sets are in demand, since no "official" mint sets were issued during those years.
341:
Occasionally, there are errors which escape the Mint's inspection process, resulting in some very rare and expensive proof sets. This has happened at least seven times: 1968-S, 1970-S and 1975-S and in the 1983-S Prestige set, each with a dime that has no mint mark; a small number of 1971-S sets
333:
were struck in 1999. Although these proof dollars were sold separately and not included in the proof sets for that year, some third parties used the cases from other years to create 1999 proof sets that include the dollar, prompting the U.S. Mint to advise the public that these sets were not
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government-issued sets. A proof "Coin & Chronicles" set was issued for 2009, which included one each of the 4 different
Lincoln Cent designs and a commemorative Lincoln Silver Dollar, presented in special packaging. Other sets, called "Prestige Proof" sets, also contain selected
131:
Preparation of a proof striking usually involved polishing of the dies. They can usually be distinguished from normal circulation coins by their sharper rims and design, as well as much smoother "fields"
545:
Illustrated
History of the United States Mint: With Short Historical Sketches and Illustrations of the Branch Mints and Assay Offices, and a Complete Description of American Coinage ...
162:
undertook the first rigorous attempt to catalog the coinage of Great
Britain and Ireland starting in about 1816. Starting that year, proof specimens of coins and medals struck at the
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struck that year, and the five cent, dime, and half dollar coins. Proof sets containing only 2009 cents, 50 State quarters, America the
Beautiful quarters, Presidential dollars, and
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Starting in 1947 the U.S. mint began producing "mint sets", and because of the terms used there is some confusion over the difference between these and proof sets. These are
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The U.S. Mint has also released special proof sets, such as in 1976, when a proof set of three 40% silver-clad coins: the quarter, half-dollar and dollar coins depicting
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The U.S. had largely stopped striking proof coins in 1916, although a few later specimens exist. From 1936 to 1942, proof coins could be ordered individually from the
244:
production of proof sets was suspended and
Special Mint Sets were made in their place. They were made at the San Francisco Assay Office but bore no "S" mintmark.)
350:) to give the hair a smoother appearance. This resulted in the "accented hair" variety being somewhat rarer and commanding a premium over the "regular" variety.
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338:. These sets were sold from 1983 to 1997 (except 1985) at an additional premium. As Legacy Proof sets, the practice was resumed from 2005 to 2008.
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circulation strikes. After being struck, they are separately and individually handled, in contrast to normal coins which are thrown into bins.
35:
377:, but in 2011 changed to a "brilliant finish" so that contact marks incurred during the normal production process would be less noticeable.
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platinum, palladium, gold, and silver coins are also often issued in both uncirculated and proof types, sometimes with different
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and base metal. Also, "Silver
Premier" sets, featuring deluxe packaging, were offered from 1992 to 1998. U.S. commemorative and
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were issued in a plastic case contained in a brown wood-grain finish slipcase box, and are referred to as "Brown Ikes". Proof
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included a nickel without a mint mark; 1990-S saw both regular and
Prestige sets which included a penny with no mint mark.
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Sets struck from 1936 to 1942 (1942 offered a five-coin and a six-coin version, the latter included the silver wartime
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From 1950 to 1955, proof sets were packaged in a box and each of the five coins was sealed in a
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was also included, and also from 2000 on. The 1999–2008 proof sets also contain five different
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Decorative packaging for proof set: Reserve Bank of New Zealand; Royal Mint
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217:. Beginning in 1950, customers could order proof coins only as
527:(2nd ed.). New York: House of Collectibles. p. 432.
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District of Columbia and United States Territories quarters
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Gold coins were omitted from proof sets produced for the
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Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection
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special reverses to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial
116:(as in demonstrating that something is true) and for
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for the Lincoln Cent, six quarters issued under the
180:, proof sets were heavily marketed internationally.
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128:). Nearly all countries have issued proof coinage.
353:Since 1992 the mint has struck proof sets in both
325:was issued. From 1971 to 1974, proof silver-clad
135:— the blank areas not part of the coin's design.
93:(proof) from the first year of issue for coinage.
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32:The examples and perspective in this article
282:. The 2004–2005 series also contain the two
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703:VAM (Morgan and Peace dollar die varieties)
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232:Proof set of 5 coins including 40% silver
112:issue, historically made for checking the
290:. The 2010-2021 proof sets also contain
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70:Learn how and when to remove this message
829:International Coin Certification Service
286:. The 2007–2016 proof sets also include
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885:Standard Catalog of World Paper Money
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108:refers to special early samples of a
251:) and from 1950 to 1972 include the
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310:program, four Presidential and one
16:Special early samples of a new coin
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839:Professional Coin Grading Service
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937:Coin shows in the United States
880:Replacement banknote (star note)
824:Certified Acceptance Corporation
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542:Evans, George Greenlief (1892).
171:coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
166:were produced for preservation.
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506:A New History of the Royal Mint
508:. Cambridge University Press.
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292:America the Beautiful quarters
1:
911:List of metal detecting finds
523:Dannreuther, John W. (2004).
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921:List of most expensive coins
504:Challis, C. E., ed. (1992).
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834:Numismatic Guaranty Company
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316:American Innovation dollars
274:From 1973 through 1981 the
46:, discuss the issue on the
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993:Coins of the United States
743:Sheldon coin grading scale
548:Philadelphia: G. G. Evans.
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184:United States proof coins
331:Susan B. Anthony dollars
302:— as that year featured
298:— the most ever included
901:List of coin collectors
865:Greenback (1860s money)
443:"Proof Coinage Catalog"
304:four different reverses
284:Lewis and Clark nickels
190:United States Proof Set
959:Numismatics portal
738:Paper currency grading
312:Native American dollar
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160:William Wellesley Pole
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155:1970 British proof set
147:Royal Mint proof coins
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318:are also available.
288:Presidential dollars
52:create a new article
44:improve this article
34:may not represent a
875:Paper money catalog
748:Third-party grading
628:Coin counterfeiting
466:, pp. 479–480.
336:commemorative coins
234:Kennedy half dollar
906:List of currencies
648:Commemorative coin
638:Coin rolling scams
401:Commemorative coin
370:uncirculated coins
348:Jacqueline Kennedy
327:Eisenhower dollars
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230:United States Mint
215:United States Mint
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653:Euro starter kits
633:Coin roll hunting
608:Circulation issue
411:Uncirculated coin
375:uncirculated sets
280:50 State quarters
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54:, as appropriate.
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969:Money portal
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663:History of coins
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779:Coin counter
774:Coin catalog
769:Coin capsule
728:Coin grading
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488:Challis 1992
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476:Challis 1992
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464:Challis 1992
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447:. Retrieved
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406:Pattern coin
396:Coin grading
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200:Lincoln cent
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60:January 2022
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848:Paper money
784:Coin folder
688:Seigniorage
678:Numismatics
591:Numismatics
269:half dollar
982:Categories
860:Fiat money
764:Coin board
693:Token coin
430:Evans 1892
417:References
363:mint marks
241:cellophane
164:Royal Mint
87:Costa Rica
870:Notaphily
812:companies
733:Coin slab
445:. Colnect
48:talk page
855:Banknote
757:Supplies
668:Key date
658:Exonumia
643:Coin set
385:See also
118:archival
89:1897 20
42:You may
721:Grading
498:Sources
359:bullion
265:quarter
228:A 1969
204:obverse
91:colĂłnes
698:Toning
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355:silver
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276:dollar
267:, and
257:nickel
249:nickel
176:After
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988:Coins
930:Shows
894:Lists
819:ANACS
803:Other
208:cameo
198:2002
50:, or
613:Coin
529:ISBN
510:ISBN
451:2014
261:dime
253:cent
114:dies
110:coin
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