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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Conder101, post: 2866697, member: 66&quot;]Typical die life for a proof die (since around 1973) is around 3000 to 5000 coins but can be much lower.&nbsp; Once these were discovered the Mint went through the stock of proof sets they still had on hand and pulled those that they found.&nbsp; They did find some but I have no idea how many they found.&nbsp; So it is possible that the bulk of the mintage never left the mints hands.</p><p><br /></p><p>Earlier proof dies lasted much longer because when the dies would start to lose their mirrors they would simply be repolished.&nbsp; No attempt would be made to retain the cameo contrast.&nbsp; That is why cameos are so scarce on proofs before 1973 and why the brilliant proofs of the 50&#039;s and 60&#039;s have that &quot;melted&quot; look.&nbsp; The dies were used way too long.&nbsp; After they decided to have all the proofs cameo they stopped the repolishings.&nbsp; As soon as a die started showing flowlines in the field (What the mint calls &quot;starburst&quot;.) the die is retired.</p><p><br /></p><p>And 3.3 million coins with a 3000 coin die life is only 1100 dies.&nbsp; 9 billion business strikes with a million coin die life is 9,000 dies.&nbsp; If they can make 9000 business strike dies they can surely do a 1000 proof dies.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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