I found a previous post from 2004 asking this question, but it was never answered. What years did the US Mint include certificates in proof sets? I know that the pre-1965 proof sets included a piece of paper that weren't COA's, but rather cranky ("Don't call us, we'll call you") statements that they wouldn't replace any discolored coins. I don't know exactly when these started. The first of my sets that has an inserted statement was 1958 (see attached). The statement got a bit more cranky in 1961 (see attached). After 1964, the next set to have an insert was 1986 which was not a COA, but simply a set of specifications for the set (see attached). The first set in which I see a true COA was 1990 (see attached). So, 1. Does anyone know what year the pre-1965 proof sets started to contain an inserted statement? 2. Am I correct that inserts did not appear after 1965 until 1986 and that they were not truly COA's until 1990?
The oldest original Mint or Proof set I ever managed to obtain was from 1949 - it contained an insert much like the one you posted from 1958. To the best of my knowledge the inserts remained similar to this until around 1990 when the first COA appeared.
Does that mean there was some kind of insert from 1968 to 1985? The sets I have don't have one. I didn't know if the original owner lost them or if they were never included.
After doing some more checking it appears that you are correct - there were no insert cards for the years '68 thru '93. The first COA was issued in '94.
Proof sets might not be until 1994 (I thought they were a little earlier than that) but the first COA were issued with the commemorative sets starting in 1986 with the SOL set.
My 1986 proof set is the first one after 1965 that has an insert. The 1990 proof set is the first one that is actually a COA and not just a specification sheet.
right dreamer94, What happened is that the inserts from 1986-1989 had specs on one side and just the U.S. Mint seal on the other.In 1990,they printed a COA on that side..and every year since as far as I know.
I guess that goes to show ya can't always trust the books. I was reporting what it says in United States Mint Sets and Proof Sets 1936 - 2002 by Ron Guth and Bill Gale.
I've ordered that book on your recommendation. I'm interested in what it says about original packaging and "unopened" sets since that has been such a controversial topic.
