Archive records concerning proof coins and medals 0

[RWB]

The following volumes of correspondence have been digitized and are (or soon will be) available on NNP. These all relate to proof coin and medal orders. These were discovered amidst other documents and were not identified in any of the archive finding aids.

Each volume is 500+ pages.

 It is believed that at one time similar volumes existed for the entire series of proof coins and medals beginning in about 1858. Additional volumes might turn up at any time.

RWB

 RG104 E-6 Box 28 Vol 2 Jan 2 1885- Dec 27 1886-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 28 Vol 4 Dec 27 1886- Dec 14 1887-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 29 Vol 1 Dec 14 1887- June 16 1888-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 29 Vol 3 June 16 1888- Mar 2 1889-Medal Clerk

Edited March 3, 2023 by RWB

[RWB]

Here's a sample page from 1886.

The manuscript reads:

February 16, 1886

 George R. Dreese

Providence, R.I.

 Sir:

            In compliance with your order of the 10^th inst., I send you by Adams Express three silver proof sets for 1885, two silver proof sets for 1886, five minor proof sets for 1886, one three dollar gold piece of 1886, one gold dollar 1886, and one  Cleveland Presidential medal.

Very Respectfully

D. Fox, Superintendent

Edited March 5, 2023 by RWB

[RWB]

Anyone want to guess the value in today's coin market?

[FlyingAl]

On 3/6/2023 at 1:59 PM, RWB said:

Anyone want to guess the value in today's coin market?

Depending on the grades of the coins, I'd guess several hundred thousand dollars to upwards of $1,000,000. I'd expect a good chunk of the value is in the proof Morgans, given that they'd likely be fairly high grade and wonderfully toned. 

My educated guess without really looking at guides will be $415,000, assuming an average grade of around 66 with a few CAMs and DCAMs mixed in. 

Edited March 7, 2023 by FlyingAl

[RWB]

Until the early 1950s, these could be purchased for a couple of dollars each.

[FlyingAl]

On 3/7/2023 at 3:30 PM, RWB said:

Until the early 1950s, these could be purchased for a couple of dollars each.

I'd buy a 1885 proof set for a couple of dollars. 

[RWB]

Yeah, me too...and maybe some of those gold proofs!

[FlyingAl]

On 3/7/2023 at 6:51 PM, RWB said:

Yeah, me too...and maybe some of those gold proofs!

Well, when you find them...

I want 'em all! 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 3/7/2023 at 8:51 PM, RWB said:

Yeah, me too...and maybe some of those gold proofs!

Like you always said, there were so few people who could afford them back then.  Even though rank-and-file collecting picked up in the 1850's, anybody spending a few dozen dollars a year collecting coins had to be wealthy, let alone 3 or 4 or 5 figures.