Thread: Question on 1789 proof set coin

Im no expert in coins it's just a hobby i was in to for a few years. Some how this coin came into my possession i was too young to remember. I wanted to know if this proof coin here that says 1789 on it was actually made then. Was it an unimportant center piece in a proof set from 1789? Any ideas would be much appreciated....Oh yeah is this worth anything?

I would guess this is the front. Sorry about the picture quality. It says "UNITED STATES PROOF SET"


The back says "THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 1789"

No, that's not from 1789 -- that year is the year of establishment of the Department of the Treasury for the United States of America after the drafting of the Constitution.

That is most probably a medal included with a proof set or uncirculated set that was included with the coins from that particular year. However, it is most certainly from the 20TH century, and not the 18th.

~AJ

I agree....it is the medal that comes in some Proof sets...I think that it wouldbe from the 1980's....

Speedy

Strangely enough, there was only ever 1 year that the mint issued this token with a Proof set - it was 1982.

Strangely enough, there was only ever 1 year that the mint issued this token with a Proof set - it was 1982.

Learn something new everyday!

Speedy

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

Strangely enough, there was only ever 1 year that the mint issued this token with a Proof set - it was 1982.

But.....WHY!?!?!?!?

Here is some obscure coin trivia (as I recall it). The Mint had already ordered the cases for the 1982 sets (or had a big backlog from 79/80/81), and they were stuck with an extra hole when the SBA was not minted in 1982. I forget the size of this medal, but they may have used a plastic ring to size it to the SBA hole. (My 82 sets are not handy right now).

Love your memory JBK - you remember all the stuff I've forgotten

JBK has it or at least most of it. The mint had a backlog of the six hole proof set holders on hand when it was decided to stop making the SBA. Rather than discard the holders they made this Treasury medal of the same size as the SBA to fill the hole. Then in 1983 they went back to five hole sets. The plastic ring that he mentioned was from the other end of the SBA era. In 1979 the mint also had a backlog of the six hole proof set holders, but the dollar hole was for the large size Ike dollar. Rather than discard those holders the 1979-S proof SBA was inserted into a clar plastic ring and that was then put into the Ike dollar hole in the holder.

Two things....if that medal is the same size, I wonder if it would work in a vending machine??

Second, thus illustrates how fast these decisions to change or drop a coin are made.

Originally Posted by JBK

... thus illustrates how fast these decisions to change or drop a coin are made.

Actually I think it provides a wonderful example of how government works. The government sometimes does things such as this because they can not back out of contracts. This policy although founded for a good reason has caused numerous losses over the years.

I once witnessed the construction of $35 million in new buildings for a navy base that was closed down only 6 months after the buildings were built. They were never occupied and after closing they were sold for pennies on the dollar to another company who just wanted the land so they demolished them.

Originally Posted by JBK

Two things....if that medal is the same size, I wonder if it would work in a vending machine??

No - it has the wrong electronic signature.

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

No - it has the wrong electronic signature.

I would have thought that, but considering that the SBA and Sacky have the same elec sig, I wonbder how loose the machiones are. If this medal were made today, it might be copper plated steel or zinc, but back then I'll bet it was copper or a copper alloy. That might be close enought to slide into the SBA/Sacky range.

Anyway, if I get one real cheap, maybe I'll try it. Thing is, I don't know of a vendor I am looking to rip off.

Are these medals worth anything?

Originally Posted by tinamartin

Are these medals worth anything?

Not really. More an novelty item but not much "jing" value. When folks break up the '82 sets the poor token goes wanting.....

Welcome to the forum and you really dug deep to resurrect this old thread Tina.......

I've seen these on e-Bay before, believe it or not, they had bids. ~insert screwy face...here~