WoodenJefferson

They are still around, click on the users name, they are in the Gallery. I for one only see a worn 1970-D Washie

Why would a grading service deliberately stick it's neck out and call it a 'proof' if no Mint historical records exists? Not gonna happen.

http://www.coinweek.com/bullion-report/u-s-mint-updates-silver-eagle-bullion-coin-branch-mint-attribution-information/

RE: "Will also apologize to RWB for making less than flattering comments about him.  I know that he is a prolific numismatic writer who, I guess, has sort of taken over for Breen."
Thank you. No offense or consternation taken. I make absolutely no pretense of "taking over" for anyone from the past, especially Breen. They did their best under the circumstances, and there is a corpus of knowledge that must not be ignored. But, in the 21st century, we choose to investigate more thoroughly, applying basic rules of academic research and scientific method to what we observe.
Every article and book I've written is founded on open and complete disclosure of sources, and includes an honest effort to separate fact from my own interpretation or interpolation. In that regard, a brief anecdote might be useful ----. Before beginning what would eventually become Renaissance of American Coinage 1916-1921, I asked many of the "leading lights" of numismatics about sources -- where could more be found about the 1916 design competition and the 1921 Peace dollar. The unanimous reply was they don't exist. "Taxay found it all and that's all there is." It took nearly 5 years of work to complete the final draft. Anyone reading the RAC 1916-21 book will see what a more thorough investigation produced; and they can access every document and photo for free.
This is not "tooting my own horn" as some might think. I've never been that kind of person - otherwise I would have retired as the CEO of the company and not a lowly VP. The point is to encourage others to dig deeper, question accepted knowledge, make decisions from facts and data, and let those who were present so long ago tell their own story.
 

This came home with me from the recent MSNS Spring Convention.

i exhibited a collection of Civil War store cards from Jackson Michigan

As a child, my Mother always told me, "If you have nothing good to say about anyone, then don't say anything."
She was wise in her ways.

I'm with Roger on this one as the  numbers written in permanent marker on the outside of the box are more or less a 'internal' tracking system used by the Mint. It was later learned that these numbers could be used to identify where these bullion coins originated from but not refutable evidence. The straps, the bar code and the packing slip where the key identifiers of origin. Put all that together and it gives credence to the number sequence used for tracking.
Enjoy your SAE's knowing they came from the Philadelphia Mint.

In a quirk of fate, the misattributed error is probably worth more than just a business strike in a slab now...to error slab collectors, this is close to the Holy Grail for mechanical errors.

This is probably the best way to do it. Not my best work, but I've got very little experience with the videos. I keep thinking that a video would be the best way to show off the PL-ness of a coin, if done properly. 
 

Michael, yes, for various reasons (such as value, rarity, questions about man-made vs. mint-made flaws), more time is spent on some coins than others. However, that said, I remember having spirited debates from time to time over (even) very low value/common coins.
Ragarding the 1909-VDB - my guess is that it was was incorrectly input as a Proof, before it made it to the greading room, graded by the graders, who didn't notice the error, sealed in the holder and then shipped out, without the verifier catching the mistake.
When I graded at NGC, I spent a good portion of most days inspecting the coins (and the grading labels), after they had been graded and sealed. In addition to looking at the coins vs. their assigned grades, I checked the labels for errors such as date, mintmark, variety and designations such as MS, PR, PL, FH, etc.