Early Jefferson Nickel Proofs -What to do??

I've asked several of my friends who collect the Jefferson Nickel series, "Why are there NO printed ports in the Dansco 8113 (including Proof only issues) prior to the 1971-S Proof?" At this point, it's just bugging me. Surely, I'm not the only collector trying to include early Proofs in my Jeff collection. Any knowledge on the subject would be appreciated.

I've thought about getting a blank nickel album to organize the early proofs, but thought I'd check and see how others are collecting them first. I'm currently in the process of upgrading my (completed) set to AU/BU issues, and errors/varieties. Jack

 

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That's what I would do , get blank pages. I do that with my ASE to put the proofs and Rev. proofs in.

 

I can't remember if there is any room for expansion in the Dansco album as it currently stands but blank pages are a good idea along with the Whitman gold foil lettering to add the dates. Both available from Wizard Coin Supply.

 

Thanks tom. That is a possible solution. I hadn't thought about the foil letters. Have you used foil letters? I was just wondering about keeping everything straight, and about spacing. Any tips?

I still have the question of WHY? Why aren't the Dansco ports included and labeled for all Proofs in the series? Heck, my Lincoln Album has a spot for a 1909-S VDB! I'm not likely to ever own one, but the space has been provided. Jack

 

I have the same problem with my Dansco but no answer except maybe a goof up on their part or a marketing ploy to get us to buy another album or pages. On the foil letters, it's just all about touch really. You can use a strip of "removable" scotch tape, not the clear type, to put in place to line the letters up correctly over top where you want them and then remove the tape. I've had pretty good luck that way with no damage to the surface of the pages.

 

Tom - Thanks for the help and especially the tutorial. I'll most certainly give it a try The removable tape is pure genius). It couldn't be any worse than using the Dymo Letra paper labels that I'm using now.

The 8113 already has 6 pages so it probably won't take a 7th. But, I also have the Dansco 8114, which takes the album through 2017, and beyond. In that album there are only 2 pages (one of which is blank) and thus, it could easily be expanded.

I know out there among the CT GENIUS EXPERTS (you know who you are) someone can answer:
Why no early Proof ports in the Dansco 8113 Album "Jefferson Nickels 1938 - 2005 (including Proof only issues)"

 

Proofs were minted at Philly into the 60s. Not sure the exact date of the changeover though. But you should be putting a proof instead of a BU in the early Philly ports.

 

It's simple - the spots in the 8113 labeled "Proof" correspond to the years San Francisco has issued them only in Proof - they start in 1971. That's what the typical album collector wants - one each year, each Mint. Proof set collectors generally want only Proofs.

 

I get that, Dave. But doesn't logic suggest that there should at least be an accessory page or album? Why wouldn't they provide for P-Mint Proofs made prior to SF taking over the task? The Proofs exist, but (far as I know) there's no dedicated page/album within which to organize the early proofs.

I'm probably suffering "brain freeze" cause I don't understand why those issues are not even acknowledged, even though the Proof mintage numbers are included inside the back cover. Apparently Dansco realizes that Proofs wee issued from the beginning of the series, but chooses not to accommodate them.

As far as the "typical" collector, I would certainly assign myself to that group. I'm pretty sure that we "typicals" try to put together COMPLETE series (series-es?). That would include proof only issues, as stated on the cover of the album. Jack

 

Lon - Is that where I'm making the mistake. In other words, what you're saying is that the P-Mint coins were all proofs at that time? There is no Business Strike, P-Mint coins, from '38 - 71? If that's the case, that's exciting news. If that's true you have SOLVED my dilemma. Now, before I start switching coins out of the album, PLEASE make certain I understand you correctly. Jack

 

I'm willing to bet that if you wrote a letter to Dave Harper at Numismatic News he could probably give a more definitive answer to this question. But to the best of my knowledge, all publishers did not include any proof coins in their folders or albums as they were solely intended to be for business strikes only. Reason being that proof coins were not as widely collected in the early years and were a special order item from the Mint. Only later, when proof coins became more widely collected, were albums having slots for these. If you look on Wizard Coin Supply you will see that there are variations for collectors for the major publishers who offer both regular albums and albums that include the proof coins from a certain date forward. I doubt that most who can afford the earliest proofs would want them in an album anyways due to their price to buy and a chance they would be damaged by environmental exposure, etc. This is the same for coins like the 1922 Lincoln, the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln and the 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln. They were all included in early albums but were errors/varieties. Only after a lot of feedback from collectors, did they do away with these slots as they were not "normal" business strikes.

 

The guy who starts an album company that has custom albums at fair prices would be very busy and very rich...

 

That seems a little sarcastic.
Should they have a slot for 1955P and another for 1955P proof? I don't know, maybe.
I'm just saying they don't have that currently.

 

Jack is new.....you are the adult......

 

I'm not a big fan of putting proofs into any album. I'm glad Dansco left out the early proofs. They don't do well in albums, long term. To much risk for coins of that value.

 

Anyone who reads sarcasm into an honest reply, is someone looking for it. There was no sarcasm intended, merely a request for information. As for being new, I'm not. There are early Proof Jefferson Nickels that are not unreasonably priced ( 50s, and 60s). Certainly, the closer you get to 1938, the rarity and corresponding prices do increase.

Tom - I appreciate the time you've taken to look into this question and I think your last post is probably the best answer. Ultimately, I'll either go with the blank album and foil dates, or, as Lon suggested, replace my current BU P-Mint issues with Proofs as I am able. I suppose I could even use the foil (on the blank pages) to indicate that the P-Mint issues are Proofs, that actually might look pretty good. Also, I'm certain you are correct suggesting that the earliest proofs, of high value, should probably not placed in an album, but something more secure. That makes sense.

SuperDave - After re-reading your reply, the light bulb finally went off in my brain and I realized what you were saying. It's a very good explanation for the term "Including Proof Only Issues", that I didn't fully understand before. Thanks.

The OP was an inquiry into what others have done to accommodate early Jefferson Proofs (before 1971), and to see if there was a definitive reason why they aren't included by the major Album manufacturers. I appreciate everyone's input and willingness to take the time to help. Jack

 

You've grown up.......

 

FWIW, most Dansco albums have this quirk. For my Lincoln Memorial album, I put a proof in place of the BU.

 

And that was your method.........

Bravo.....

 

It's a shame but in the end it tends to be about money as to why they do and don't do more to please we the collectors. It would be nice if Dansco and Littleton would once again start making quality Canada and Great Britain albums for all of the series made by both but I doubt this is going to happen any time soon. I would love to upgrade my old folders for some of these but alas...