Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1989

Silver-minor proof sets.[625] Minted in the following deliveries.
Feb. 5 25
Feb. 18 10
Feb. 25 20
March 13 20
June 10

Note that the complete set in SI contains only the nickel without rays, though it was obtained from the Coiner March 7. For confirmation, I have seen a cased set (buckram, with gold stamped inscription), obtained from the mint in March, with the nickel without rays and no space for the other type. Cf. Ramsay Bartlett: 998 ($1600) - the same set? Regrettably, when the set was shown me, 1 had not my notebooks at hand, so could not ascertain the die variety of nickel 5¢ (rev.), trime, half dime, or dollar. Garrett's set (nickel with rays) had the other nickel added, and brought $13,000. Doubtless some sets now extant have been assembled. Certainly the few that contain both nickels have had one or the other added later; even as with the 1864 sets showing both types of cent. Incidentally, in a little black leatherette-bound book, The Copper Coins of the United States, being the actual Prices realized for Coins at auctions during 1900-1901: compiled by Albert R. Frey and Ed. Frossard: Volume I: New York, Ed. Frossard, 111 East 14th St., Nov. 1901, [i.e. Boston, W.T.R. Marvin, printer], there is a section devoted to minor proof sets dating from 1864 only, "sold per set", with an explanation to the effect that the 1864 set consists of nickel cent, copper cent and 2¢, the 1865 of 1¢, 2¢, and 3¢, 1866-73 of 1¢, 2¢, 3¢ and 5¢, 1874-89 of 1¢, 3¢ and 5¢, and 1890-1901 of 1¢ and 5¢. If the mint actually began making up sets of minor proof coins beginning in 1864, that would justify a somewhat larger plus mark on the bronze cent and 2¢ piece of that year. It is possible, however that the extant sets of 1864-65 were made up later for uniformity with the minor sets actually sold in subsequent years. I have not seen a copy of the Mint Regulations brochure for 1864 or 1865, which would settle the question, so in the meantime it must remain open. I mention this booklet here because when I was writing up the 1864 issues I had not yet seen the reference.

Gold Dollar. [50] *B-3. Date slants up very slightly. Very rare, more so than the mintage would indicate; in a class with gold dollar proofs of previous years despite the larger mintage. Several of the survivors have been badly cleaned, e.g. Wolfson: 55. There are probably less than 18 survivors in all. If it should develop that two varieties of proofs exist (though I have seen only one), a decision as to which .is the earlier might be made on the basisof the known date of issue of the dollar in the Smithsonian proof set (from the Coiner, March 7, or only two days after the initial delivery of 25 proofs: the remaining 25 came on July 2). It is also possible that proofs were made from the dies earlier used for business strikes, but of this there is no evidence as yet.

Quarter Eagle. [50] Date from the dime logotype, 7 touching truncastion, I almost touching, often faintly cracked through 67. Rev. Die of 1866 proofs, with extra lines within loop of R. (1) SI. (2) ANS. (3) Eliasberg. (4) BellI. (5) WGC. (6) Atwater: 2118. (7) "Memorable": 126. (8) Melish: 1263, J. W. (9) LM 10/69:403. (10) Garrett:420. (11) Ullmer: 372, rev. rubbed. (12) S 9/75. Others are mostly poorly cleaned, nicked or scratched.

Three Dollars. [50] Two varieties, possibly identifiable with the earlier and later strikings of 25 apiece.

- B-1. Obv. of 1864-66 original proofs, described above. Rev. Date to left, left (upright) serif of 7 under r.tip of left foot of A. (1) Eliasberg, (2) and (3) others seen in private colis. Believed to constitute the 25 struck March 5, 1867. Confirmation awaits examination of the SI coin, obtained from the Coiner, March 7, 1867 (struck two days earlier). Nonproof impressions from this rev. were made Jan. 24 - Cf. KS 2/60:2663. Silver and nickel impressions, KS 2/60: 2440-41.

- *B-3. Obv. of 1868 proofs, with the tiny rust marks in D and R. Rev. Date to r., serif of 7 under left tip of r. foot of A. (1) Mint, 1867, Brock, Morgan, ANS. (2) Garrett: 419, $5,500. (3) Golden II: 1913. (4) Dr. E. Yale Clarke :15, $7,500, possibly same as preceding. (5) Grant Pierce: 1254 at $1,900, a figure now too low but then high and based on someone's notion that only three unimpaired proofs. survived. (6) 1974 GENA:1875, impaired, now AU. Also known in copper, KS 2/60:2442. Believed to constitute the 25 struck July 2, 1867.

Probably from 15 to 20 survive in proof state, including impaired pieces, of both varieties. No rumor of restrikes.

Half Eagle. [50] Date high, to left; left base of I almost over r. edge. Probably fewer than 10 survivors, some impaired, e.g. Dr. Clifford Smith: 1856 (EF); Ullmer:451, rubbed, brought $5,500; Garrett: 418, spotty but unimpaired, $6,500.

1867 Eagle. Ex Garrett, Johns Hopkins, Essex Eagle. [50] *B-1. High date, left base of 1 just r. of left edge. Almost equally rare, possibly 12 to 15 surviving, some impaired. Ullmer:491, $15,000; Garrett, $10,000, Essex. Same dies used on copper and nickel strikes. Business strikes (B-2) have low date, slanting slightly up, corner of 7 near truncation.

Double Eagle. [50] Date from silver dollar logotype, high; left base of lover space. About as rare as the half eagle. (1) S1. (2) ANS. (3) Amon Carter Jr. (4) WGC :870. (5) Menjou I: 1805. (6) Garrett: 416, $16,000. (7) Phila. Estate.

Gold proof sets. [50] Half delivered March 5, the rest July 2. Garrett's was broken up, totalling $45,500.

Complete proof sets. [50] That in SI came from the Coiner, March 7, for $43.62 specie represented by $58.40 currency (depreciated greenbacks); face $43.54. Its detailed die variety composition would be of interest for comparison with the Mint - Brock - Morgan - ANS set, evidently one of the later ones, possibly obtained in or after July 1867. No hint of restrikes for any of these denominations.