Because they are made on different equipment, with different steps in their preparation, many collectors prefer them. Big, slow moving hydraulic presses exert tremendous pressure to move meticulously prepared highly polished dies to impress the sharpest possible image onto gleaming blanks, to produce a perfect coin – a proof, as it were, of the coiner’s art.

Proofs have been struck from the beginning of US coinage. A specimen strike (the only one) of the 1794 silver dollar – a coin believed to be the very first US dollar – fetched $10,086,000 at auction several years ago.

Sets of proof coins were first produced for public consumption in 1936 at $1.81 per set. Each year these became more popular. But mintages were low. The 1936 proof set in unimpaired condition now brings a mid 4-figure price at auction
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Through 1964 theses sets contained a 90% silver half dollar, quarter, and dime, plus the bronze cent and five cent nickel. During ensuing decades proof sets were produced in huge quantities as coin collecting expanded along with the population. Silver proof sets returned as an alternative to those without silver in 1992. Even in a market of abundant supply these sets will tend to track with the spot price of silver.

At London Coin Galleries Mission Viejo we have proof sets available for most years. Currently we have select sets from the 1950’s on display during the holiday season.