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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 4558126, member: 101855&quot;]<b>The aftermath</b></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Midway through 1964 mint director, Eva Adams, announced that Proof set production would be suspended in 1965. The reason cited was that the mint was at full capacity given the coin shortage that was affecting the country. Another reason was that mint officials blamed coin collectors for much of the shortage. If collectors would only stop taking coins out of the circulation, they claimed, the problem would be solved. Much of the hoarding was due to the perception that the value of the silver in the dime, quarter and half dollar would soon exceed the face value of the coins. That perception would prove to be correct a few years later.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1128409[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; In 1965 the San Francisco mint issued Special Mint sets. The quality of the coins was better than the business strike pieces, but the coins were far below Proof quality. In addition, the price was raised from $2.10 to $4.00, and there was only one 40% silver coin in the set. The mint continued to issue Special Mint sets in 1966 and ’67. The 1966 and ’67 coins were close to Proof quality and were better than the 1965 sets had been.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1128410[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Proof set production was restored in 1968 with each coin bearing the then esoteric S mint mark. The price was raised to $5.00 per set. For a brief while the market for 1868-S was very hot, and the price went up to $35 per set. Then the novelty wore off, and the market for this and other Proof sets from this era went into the doldrums permanently.&nbsp; Despite some temporary price blips, many Proof sets from the 1970s have sold for levels that were at or below their issue prices. Clearly the days of innocence were over.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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