2017-04-21 Fri

The production of new Proof coins by US Mint was halted from 1917 to 1935. These coins were earlier offered from 1858 to 1916 and were reborn in 1936 again. The first seven years of modern Proof coinage has been comprehensively explained in a book called United States Proof Coins 1936–1942 by Roger W. Burdette. Burdette has worked on other books like the Renaissance of American Coinage trilogy, United States Pattern and Experimental Pieces of WW II, From Mine to Mint, and the Guide Book of Peace Dollars.

The book includes history behind the series with logical conclusions and colourful illustrations, the number of pieces struck from each die, when dies were pulled from service, delivery dates of coins, quantities sold and returned for destruction etc. Analytics is based on year of issue, by date and denomination.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. resumed Proof coinage on 28th April 1936. The initial response to this program was great and Philadelphia Mint officials had not expected the same. Some collectors did not like the fact that some of these coins did not feature mirror-like fields and frosted devices of the coins in past decades. Satin Proofs and Brilliant Proofs were produced.

Historical facts like Proof coin deliveries by denomination and sales is explained. It explains minute details like counterfeits, the “look” of a particular date and denomination, and “notable die varieties,” (doubled dies or overpolished dies). The book throws light on interesting topics like the origin of ‘1940 reverse of ’38 nickels,’?‘1939 reverse of ’40 nickels,’ production of ‘cameo proofs’ etc. Topics like “Origin of Modern Proof Coinage” and “Manufacturing Proof Coins,” are also covered in detail. It explores why 1936 Lincoln cents and Jefferson 5-cent coins were produced in Proof finish or a Brilliant Proof finish.