A New Coin Collector? In 1965?
Back in the mid-1960s, the US Mint experienced a shortage of coins. Plus, a change in the raw metal values, in particular silver, forced a change in the metals used for the coins.
You can find links to various newspaper articles about the shortages during that era near the bottom of our mint set pages (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969).
These shortages and the changes in the coins’ metal content piqued the interest of coin collectors back in the day. The news along with the difficulty finding coins also generated an interest in coin collecting for those who had never collected coins.
Perhaps these notes, found in a collection, showcase the beginning steps for a new coin collector.
This first page shows his notes about pennies, nickels and dimes.
It also shows where he made a purchase of $1.05 in coins and a new 1965 Red Book for a total of $2.80 plus tax. The tax shows $0.08 for a total purchase of $2.88 which was not insignificant back then.
As an aside, those totals represent a nice trip down memory lane regarding sales taxes. For those who don’t know or don’t remember, we used to have sales tax of three cents on the dollar.
Back to his notes, the new coin collector goes on to identify specific coins and mint marks:
- All “S” mint coins
- All cents below 1940 (in nice shape)
- All Buffalo nickels with all 4 digits
- All 38-P, 55-P, 58-P, 59-P nickels
- All 54-P and steel cents
His next page goes on to detail specific years and mint marks by denomination.
Is this what he wants to look for in pocket change in “good condition?” Though difficult today, back then you could still find coins with those dates in pocket change.
And, had he found several of the coins listed, he could have enjoyed a significant increase in the value of his collection. For example, the 1932 D and S, 1936D and 1937S quarters, the 1939D and 1950D nickels and the 1949S and 1950S dimes are some of the key dates in the years he noted.
Did this gentleman pursue his interests? Or, did these notes get put aside to be visited on rare occasions?
Maybe he bought a few of the US Mint collectible sets, either mint sets or proof sets. In all likelihood, that’s where he hid his notes for us to find many years later.
For some people, those coin shortages in the mid-sixties started their lifelong and intense interest in numismatics. For others, their coin collecting days were few and far between – maybe when they received their annual mailings from the US Mint.
Whether an intense hobbyist or a casual one, we hope this gentleman enjoyed his coin collecting and coin collection during the last 45+ years.
1982 Proof Set Brochure – Found Item
When going through purchased coin sets, it’s always interesting to find the bits of history associated with the coins.
We found this 1982 Proof Set Brochure in with some proof sets. Like the coins, the brochure provides an interesting view into the US Mint’s historical marketing material. And, like always, it’s interesting to view the US Mint’s marketing without the internet versus their marketing processes today.
Let’s take a look at the front of the folded brochure:
The front of the US Mint’s 1982 Proof Set Brochure includes red, white and blue colors with an inked sketch of a building. Unfolded slightly, you can get a better view of the US Mint’s design for the brochure.
The red, white and blue colors provide imagery for the nation’s stars and stripes.
The text on the back of the brochure explains the building:
Featured on the front panel – The San Francisco Assay Office, home of proof coin productions since 1968. Congress designated this facility as an Assay Office in July 1962 with Public Law 87-534. Prior to that time the building, which was built in 1937, had been a Mint; however, because of high operating costs and facility expansion at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints, coinage operations in San Francisco were closed down in March 1955. In the mid-sixties a critical shortage of coins began to develop and the Assay Office was called upon to fabricate one cent and five cent blanks which were shipped to the Denver Mint to be struck. In 1965 the Assay Office was given authority to strike coins for circulation. The San Francisco Assay Office continues the production of one cent coins, with no mint mark, for circulation in addition to the highly specialized production of proof coins. Over 3.5 million proof coin sets were sold last year.
Inside the unfolded brochure for the 1982 Proof Set, the US Mint provided their marketing information:
In the first columns, the US Mint included details of the contents of the 1982 Proof Set and the proof coining processes:
The 1982 Proof Coin Set…
…Contains a proof half dollar, quarter, nickel, dime and one cent coin produced by the San Francisco Assay Office. These are the only coins to have the ‘S’ mint mark in 1982. This year’s set also contains a proof medal featuring the Treasury Seal and the date 1789 on the obverse and an eagle and the inscription United States Proof Set on the reverse. The medal was specially designed for the 1982 sets which are priced at $11.00 per set.
The produce of proof coins is a unique operation with special handling being given to both the dies and the blanks. Proof blanks are burnished with thousands of steel beads and cleaning chemicals to buff out imperfections and polish the surface. The polished blanks are then rinsed, dried and transferred to the press room where a final cleaning and inspection is given them by the coin operator before they are struck. Proof dies are first sandblasted resulting in a frosted appearance and texture to the die’s surface. The portrait is then covered with tape and the background is polished with several grades of diamond polish and buffed. When the tape is removed the frosted design against the polished background gives a beautiful two-toned effect to the die which is transferred to the coins when they are individually struck twice. Proof coins are sealed in a clear plastic package to protect their beauty.
Limitations: One order per customer; five orders per address.
Individuals can order a maximum of five sets. Customers wanting to order five sets must do so with their initial order. No more than five orders will be sent to one address. The limitations are imposed to make these sets available to as many customers as possible and may be reduced if orders exceed production capabilities.
Ordering period: Beginning February 1, 1982. Please note that the ordering period is earlier than ususal. The Mint anticipates accepting orders for at least a two month period. However, if orders exceed our production capability an earlier cut-off date will be announced. All orders received after the announced cut-off date will be returned. If your payment is deposited and we cannot honor your order, a refund will be made. Orders cannot be canceled by the customer.
Mailing of sets: The 1982 sets will be produced, packaged and mailed throughout the year with all sets mailed by December 31, 1982. Notification of your order number and expected delivery date will be sent to you if your order is not among the first to be mailed.
They further explained how to submit the orders and the payment types they would accept. Remember, this was in 1982.
ONLY ACCEPTABLE PAYMENTS:
(a) A personal check or cashier’s check drawn on a US bank and payable in US currency or
(b) A US or International money order
They also provided strict instructions on how to fill out the check. Take a look at this one:
In particular, the check must be made out to the Bureau of the Mint and the customer order number had to be in the upper right corner of the check. (Though probably invalid after 30 years, the identifying numbers are hidden just in case.)
Click on 1982 proof set to view the contents of the collectible the US Mint described in their brochure.
This trip down the historical memory lane also makes you wonder how long the original buyer kept their 1982 proof set, did they sell it (them, since they ordered five) or did their heirs sell them. Maybe they gave them to grandchildren or someone else.
With the ups and downs of the economy and the markets, the 1982 proof set today is worth less than half the $11.00 originally paid.
That, of course, is good for those buying the 1982 proof set…
Coin Show in Perry GA
For those in the area or who want to take a short drive this weekend, the Middle Georgia Coin Club’s 50th Annual Coin and Collectibles Show will be at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia.
The Middle Georgia Coin Club advertises over 150 dealers of coins, currency, stamps and postcards will set-up at the coin show for selling, buying, trading or appraisal. The Georgia National Fairgrounds events calendar identifies the show as the Coin, Stamp, & Postcard Show & Sale.
The show opens to the public at noon on Friday, January 27. The show hours listed on the events calendar are Friday noon to 6:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 to 4:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 4:00.
For 2012, the coin show can be found in the Miller & Howard Halls (Miller-Murphy-Howard Building). You can find more information about the fairgrounds on their web site: http://www.gnfa.com/.
As with most coin shows, admission is FREE to the Middle Georgia Coin Club’s coin show.
For more information, contact Bill Lane (478-986-9795 or 478- 955-0724) or Charles Asbell (478-750-9929).
Coin Challenge for February 2012
It’s time for a new coin challenge prior to the February coin show.
Take a look at this picture:
Yes, it is part of the image on a coin.
The US Mint provides images on our coins with historical, political or current events significance. With that said, let’s mention a few hints:
- This coin is a commemorative coin
- The image is on the reverse of the coin
- The image shows a rock wall
- The rock wall plays a secondary role and is not the main subject of the coin
- The excerpt helps showcase an historical icon from the nation’s infancy
That’s enough for now. We may offer a few more hints – check back on the blog to see.
Have fun identifying the coin!
We will post the answer after the next coin show which is Sunday, February 12.
A coin dealer from years past
With sadness, we share the news of the passing of Charles Crews. For those who have attended the Greater Atlanta Coin Show throughout the years, he was one of our coin dealers several years ago.
He passed yesterday, January 18. You can find a brief obituary in the Marietta Daily Journal Online. (mdjonline.com)
Medford-Peden Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. They are located at 1408 Canton Road NE, Marietta, GA 30066. (medfordpedenfuneralhome.com)
Visitation is scheduled from 6-8pm this evening (Thursday, January 19) with the funeral scheduled at 11 am tomorrow morning (Friday, January 20) at the funeral home.
May he rest in peace.
Not Coins Today
Today, many web sites are protesting the SOPA/PIPA legislation being discussed in the House and the Senate, respectively.
At the behest of the entertainment industry, Congress attempts to stop piracy of their property with this legislation. Unfortunately, as is the case many times in Congress, their good intentions rapidly go astray and adversely impact legitimate businesses.
One major web site, Wikipedia – the sixth largest, has gone dark for their English version. But, on their “dark” page, they provide the tools to identify the contact information for your specific representative and state senators such that you can submit your own protest.
The following was sent to my representative and the two Georgia senators:
Laws exist already to protect the entertainment industry’s intellectual property. The proposed SOPA and PIPA regulations pave the way for infringement of our basic freedoms including freedom of information that is not violating any laws.
Oppose censorship of the internet. Force big business to use the laws already in place to protect their interests.
Thank you.
Please take a few minutes to submit your own protests to your respective politicians.
Otherwise, the internet of the future may be a vastly different experience with freedoms curtailed.
First Coin Show of the 2012 New Year
We had a great first show of the new year on Sunday. If you were there, we’re glad you visited the coin show. If you missed this one, you can view the updates including the summary notes on the web site.
We just updated the coin show’s main web site with the next coin show’s information on the main page and on the Show Dates page.
We also added the coin challenge first introduced on the blog at the end of December. The Coin Challenge – Trident shows the picture of the coin challenge and the hints along with a link to the answer. (Did you figure it out? Several folks on the Coin Community Forum knew the coin rather quickly.)
Based on some new questions at the coin show, we’ve added to the FAQ page to help people understand the coin show.
Last, and perhaps most important, we added a summary of the coin show on the January 2012 Show Notes page. Take a look at the notes for some of the coins and collectibles the coin dealers brought and the people wanted to find at the recent coin show.
This past weekend’s Sunday coin show started the Greater Atlanta Coin Show’s 25th year of monthly coin shows.
Based on a full complement of coin dealers and a bourse busy with lots of people visiting, 2012 will be a great year for the coin show.
The 1981 Mint Set Marketing Brochure
Found in a proof and mint set purchase, the 1981 mint set brochure gives us another opportunity to go back in time to see how the US Mint marketed their uncirculated coin sets before the internet.
The front of the 1981 mint set brochure simply states “1981 Uncirculated Coin Set” on a grayish-blue background with colorful stripes below:
Opened slightly, the colorful stripes provide a rainbow of colors in a quarter circle:
Turned over and opened to the inside, the 1981 mint set brochure includes the marketing message from the US Mint:
Though short, their marketing points emphasized the potential scarcity of the 1981 mint sets and the necessity for ordering early.
The 1981 Uncirculated Coin Set
Each set contains thirteen coins: a dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, nickel and cent from both the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint and a dollar from the San Francisco Assay Office. The coins will be sealed in two packets and inserted in a presentation envelope. The Denver packet contains six coins with the “D” mint mark and the “S” mint marked dollar coin struck in San Francisco. In the Philadelphia packet, the coins, with the exception of the cent piece, have a “P” mint mark.
There is a limit of one order of one to five sets per customer. There is also a limit of 5 orders per address. However, in the event that orders exceed production capacity, these limitations may be reduced to ensure a more equitable distribution of coin sets to as many customers as possible. The price which includes postage, registry fee and handling is $11.00 per set. The sets will be produced and mailed by December 31, 1981. The vast majority of orders are received within the first month of the ordering period. If your order is not among the first to be mailed by the Mint, you will receive an acknowledgement card indicating your order number and the expected delivery date. Your order number also appears on your canceled remittance.
PLEASE NOTE:
Orders will be accepted beginning September 1, 1981. Acceptance of orders is contingent upon our production capability and the demand. Although we anticipate accepting order through October 30, 1981, an earlier cut-off date will be essential if orders for the sets exceed our production capability. If this occurs, it will be necessary to return all orders received at the San Francisco Old Mint after the cut-off date.
If your remittance is deposited and we cannot honor your order, a refund will be made. We therefore recommend that you send your order as soon as possible. Orders are not cancelable by the purchaser.
Folding the right side of the 1981 mint set brochure to the inside, the US Mint’s instructions for ordering the sets become visible.
In this case, the customer ordered the maximum of five sets for a total of $55.
In all likelihood none of the US Mint numbers would match in their customer database today, but we protect their details anyway. And, considering Citizens and Southern bank changed names years ago and eventually became part of Bank of America, the check’s information should not be valid either. We’ll hide those details anyway along with their name, address and telephone number.
Looking at the check, this customer heeded the US Mint’s caution to order early. Their check’s date shows September 1. The back of the check was deposited in the Mint’s bank on September 17.
Thinking about the mail time and the time to receive and manually post all of the mailed-in orders, that’s not really a lot of time.
Today, with the internet, that 16-day time span is shortened to just minutes, or hours, at most.
On our main web site, you can learn more about the 1981 Mint Set, compare it to other mint sets in the Mint Sets Population list and see an overview of all the mint sets.
First Coin Show of 2012
This is a quick reminder to everyone that our first monthly Greater Atlanta Coin Show of 2012 is this Sunday, January 15.
In 2012, the monthly coin show returns to the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center located at 500 Powder Springs Street just a short distance south west of the historic Marietta Square.
For those of you depending on GPS systems for directions, the street address – 500 Powder Springs Street – is the hotel’s official address. But, some GPS databases do not have this address listed. Instead, enter “Road” rather than “Street” into your GPS. The addresses change near the hotel.
This year begins a milestone year for the Greater Atlanta Coin Show — the 25th year of monthly coin shows. Last year was a banner year with every show bringing lots of visitors — both new and returning guests.
Come join the fun for the new year! You don’t need to be an experienced collector or investor to visit the bourse.
The doors open to the public at 9 am, close at 5 pm and everyone is welcome. Admission is always free.
You can find more information about the coin show on our main web site including directions, show dates, coin dealers’ information and summaries of previous coin shows.
Sunday looks to be a beautiful day to visit the coin show with sunny skies and highs of 54 degrees predicted. It won’t be as warm as we’ve experienced this week, but it won’t be raining either. At least that’s today’s weather prediction for the weekend.
Rain or shine, it’s always going to be a great day to visit the coin show, walk the floor to see what each dealer has on display and look for treasures.
Or, if you are interested in finding out what your valuables are worth in this market – maybe even selling them – the coin dealers will be glad to provide free verbal appraisals.
We hope to see you there!
Alert! Caution! Silver Fakes
Recently, an Australian dealer produced a short video showing some beautiful silver bars. The only problem – they’re fakes!
These Chinese fakes are moving around the world and being sold as real silver.
As he shows in the video, the copied designs on the front and the back are flawless. The weight of each silver bar is within the range of the real silver bar.
The fake silver bars also pass the magnet test with both a regular magnet and a more powerful version.
Using an abrasive file on the edge of the silver bar, the dealer shows that under the thin silver veneer, the fake silver bar has the dull gold color of its main metals – copper and zinc.
Take a look at his video.
You’ll be glad you did.
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