I saw this incredible 1914 Proof Set for sale at Legend. It just sold for $59,500. This was their description: "THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING MULTICOLORED 1914 SET WE HAVE EVER SEEN! 1C PR67 RB, 5C PR67+, 10C PR67, 25C PR67, 50C PR67+. The half dollar is the FINEST graded by PCGS. No question this is a matched totally ORIGINAL set." This is something you don't see everyday! In this case the pictures are worth 1000 words ...
I wouldn't say they are all matched, though the last barbers look it. I just don't like that assumption. The grades are too consistent. I didn't even know the mint sold sets of proof coins together in sets in 1914. Maybe some insight, those more understanding than me?
They didn't. They didn't start selling their annual proof sets until 1936. But they've been making proofs since the 1850s. That doesn't mean somebody's not allowed to put together their own compiled set. That's all it is.
Thats what I thought. So by saying that it must be a matched set, I guess it was referring to the grades and similar toning on some pieces.
Actually they've been making proofs from almost the very begining . The 1804 Dollar , minted in 1834 and included in a set of proof coins for the King of Siam and a few others , I'm pretty sure there are even proofs older than that , whether or not they were made officially is another question .
I admit I just kind of winged it on the time period. I figured there were probably some earlier examples but I think the 1850s would have been about the time they were openly making them across all series' offered. At least to where you could put together a set. That's what I went by.
All you gotta do is look in the Red Book guys to find the first "offical" Proofs. But yes, they absolutely made earlier examples. And Rusty, the King of Siam set had coins of many dates. Look at the dates on the coins, you can make out most of them.
