What's the difference between US proof sets issued in boxes (w/ soft plastic holders and tissue), and those issued in cellophane within envelopes? Is one an earlier release than the other? Or is the box simply a presentation box? But, wouldn't the coins be assembled into boxes all at one time for efficiency and logistical purposes; meaning that if they were put into boxes first, they'd have relatively better strikes and cameos, and vice versa? But, I've seen boxed proof coins selling with little to no cameo, while some cellophane sets have some cameo; though maybe that's because they switched out worn dies for new ones in between or during the two. The pics below are examples of what I mean and they were issued like that for some Walker sets and I believe it ended with Franklin sets. Thanks in advance! Pics from the 'net vs
It's pretty simple. In mid 1955 the mint made a change in packaging of the Proof sets. Prior to '55 they had always come in those boxes, coins in cellophane sleeves and wrapped in tissue paper. Then they decided to change to the pliofilm packaging. They continued it until 1968 when they changed yet again to the hard plastic cases. Been the same ever since.
1. a brand of resinlike rubber hydrochloride that forms a clear, flexible, water-resistant, heat-sealable plastic, used for packaging, raincoats, etc.
Yeah, sometimes, but not all that often really. And even when they do, about half the time the toning is downright ugly. I say this because I spent 40 years looking, searching, digging through every Proof and Mint set that every dealer had at every coin show I ever went to. And when the internet came along I added every online resource I could find. All in all I searched through tens of thousands, at a minimum, of original Proof sets. Typically, the really pretty toned coins came from the old double and triple Mint sets, and in far larger numbers.
