Questions about composition metals for Canadian Proof nickels

I have a very nice set of Canadian Nickels that I have assembled beginning with 1922 and have added to it as I can.
They are not all uncirculated but they are pretty nice and I added some proof like examples along with the regular business strikes.
I started to grab up the proof nickels in .925 sterling and I was fairly sure I had all of those from sterling silver proof nickels from 1996 including a couple Victory commemoratives as well.
Last year I got a 2011 reverse cameo style specimen set example, I think this is the first year they have started doing that.



I probably need a 2012 like that now as well.

Now, I understand the 2012 has been changed to a .999 pure silver composition,
which I have bought and I think there are only 20,000 of those made.
It looks like this.



Yesterday, I won a 2012 proof that I understand has a mintage of 40,000 and is pure nickel.
The picture supplied shows an obviously different looking coin than my 2012 .999 silver proof.



Auction title is
2012 Canada Proof 5-cent Beaver, Pure Nickel, from Proof Set, Sharp Coin

Now this has me confused.
The questions are ...

1. How many proofs are made in both nickel and silver for each year? Do I have a lot of catching up to do?
2. Have they been making proof nickels in a nickel composition all along since 1996, or is this something recent?
3. When did Canadian proof nickels start being made?

 

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Canadian proof sets (and thus nickels) were first struck in 1981. The proof coins followed the circulation composition until 1995. Starting in 1996, they were struck in sterling until 2011. In 2012, the sterling silver proof sets were discontinued. They were replaced by a much pricer set in fine silver, and one of about the same price as before, in the original base metals. So... 1981: 1000 Ni 1982-1995: 750 Cu 250 Ni 1996-2011: 925 Ar 075 Cu 2012-: 1000 Ar 2012-: 1000 Ni

 

Great information ccg1. Thank you.

 

Awesome response ccg1
Absolutely the perfect answer to what I wanted to know.
I think I shall pursue the earlier proofs. Hope none are too expensive.
Thank you!

 

The earlier (pre-1996) proofs should all be available quite inexpensively - perhaps $5 or so each at most - the 1991 might be a bit more since the regular circulation 1991 is a semi-key. 1982 nickels are interesting since it was the first year they used the copper-nickel alloy, and it's not unusual to come across ones that shows coppery spots as a result of improper alloy mixing.

 

I count 15 proofs ( non silver ) that I need and have found one seller that has half of these fairly cheap.
I can get 6 shipped for $3.00 from O Canada. I found at least one of each at a reasonable price.
It looks like the 1992 have dual dates. 1867 - 1992
I suppose this is the case for all 1992.
I like that tip on the 1982 alloy since I almost passed on one I saw like that and thought it had problems.

 

Yes, all 1992 and 2002 should be dual dates. As for the 1982, oddly enough I see way more improperly mixed alloy proofs than circulation coins - since the proofs are struck at Ottawa rather than Winnipeg, it was likely an issue of someone there not being familiar with mixing c/n. (The Winnipeg branch also does a lot of foreign coins, especially for Caribbean, and so likely had lots of experiencing with prepping c/n alloy)

 

Won these tonight. Shipping was a large portion of the cost.
They each cost me about 2 bucks total per proof nickel shipped.
1981, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 93 and 2012 specimen
bidding to win on
1984, 89, 91, 94, 95
and need a
1990 yet.
The 1990 seems to be a bit expensive right now for what is available. Is this normal?

EDIT: I cannot find a single place on the internet where somebody has any values for Canadian proof single coins such as numismedia has for US coinage.

 

the royal canadian mint jumped the shark a while ago.

 

What can this mean?

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Anyway the cheapest 1990 I could find was $7.95 shipped, so I bought it.

I am kind of funny with things like this sometimes. I don't waste much time getting what I want once I decide I want it.
In the past couple weeks I figured my set needed 16 proofs, 1 baby proof 5 cent silver coin and 1 specimen nickel and within another day or so I will have purchased all that I need.

Although my set has many early dates in less than uncirculated, there is only one slight eyesore in my set and it is one of the chrome plated 1953 nickels with the shoulder fold as those get somewhat ugly once the chrome is worn through. Theres a bit of black on the high points.
Now I have moved all the coins around in the binder I have inserted new 2x2's and await delivery.
Wish I could take better images of this set. It is pretty cool.

Thanks for the help!

 

Okee doke ... didn't have any idea what I needed on 07-23-2012 10:54 AM when
I posted this thread and by 07-23-2012 11:06 PM they are ALL in the mail.

Now I'll just wait until 2013 when I hope all I have to get is a silver proof, a nickel proof, a regular business strike and a specimen.
At the coin show here in town next Saturday, I'll be looking to buy as many different Large Canadian cents I can find and a 1953 SF nickel in AU or better.
I have to ask myself .... am I going to collect all the proof cents? At least they are not silver from 1996 to present.
Maybe I will?