Without doing some searching, does anyone know how many Morgan proofs were issued by date, not the total mintage? I ask because I got a flyer in the mail today from the Bradford Exchange that states the number was 28.
[ font = sarcasm ] Ooh ooh, sign me up! Genuine copies of Morgan proofs!! [ /font] Wow. That's some ad.
That's what I was looking for - 28. When these ads are wrong I call them out on it. Thanks for the info.
To be fair, I guess it is possible that someone might just like the design and have no interest in spending the money required for real coins. But as we all know, it is more likely that these "coins" will be sold to folks who don't understand what they are buying
I love how in the only view of the "coins" you could possibly see it, they hide the "COPY" stamp. Nice looking box, though.
I'm not sure why they would be, both were specially struck for their namesake and the Zerbe proofs were made with dies that are noted as having also been used for circulation strikes. The Chapman proofs are from a set of dies unique to the proofs, but the variation is almost unnoticeable. The chapman proofs are exceedingly rare with a known population of about 16 (though the mint invoice only lists 10 as purchased by chapman). It's possible that some were rejected as proofs and sent into normal circulation.
That depends on who you ask. Our hobby has many examples of so called "rare" coins that are not mint issue, meaning they were made by private parties just like the coins in that ad. And to me, and more than a few others, they are no different than the coins in that ad.
I don't understand how you can say that they are no different than the coins in that ad. I'm not certain about the Zerbe proofs, but the Chapman proofs were invoiced by the mint and made the same year as the issue date. It seems quite obvious that these are created rarities, but it's not quite the same circumstance as the restrikes of the 1850s or the 1913 liberty nickel.
Maybe it doesn't apply to the Chapman Proofs, but it sure does apply to a whole lot of the others. That's all I was trying to say.
It begs the question though; is there any law preventing either the Denver or Philadelphia from fulfilling a proof request? I'm not sure you could pull it off if you wanted to, but is there anything preventing them from doing it? Back in the old days, the mint would make them for a "proofing fee".