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Largest U.S. Proof set in number of coins

Why can’t I find an exact figure for the mintage of the 1823 large cents? You have it included in the 1824 mintage.

We use the same inclusive figure as is found in most reference works for 1824 in all our publications and catalogs, which includes all 1823-dated mintage, as this is the best available figure based on extensive research into the Mint records. The early records were frequently confused, including two or even three years of production in a lump sum, or including coins struck with dies for any of several years, so it is impossible to go beyond the generally accepted figures.

Next to the Lincoln cent (103 years), what U.S. coins have remained in production the longest?

It may surprise you, but the next longevity records are held by gold coins. A second-place tie goes to the Coronet eagle, struck from 1838 to 1907, and the Coronet half eagle, struck from 1839 to 1908 (69 years). Fourth place goes to the Coronet quarter eagle made from 1840 to 1907 (67 years), and fifth also is a tie at 66 years to the Washington quarter and Roosevelt dime, 1932-1998, and 1946-2012, respectively, though there were no 1933 or 1975 quarters.

Which is correct: 1,000 proof 1878 Morgan dollars were struck, or only 500?

R.W. Julian presents excellent Mint record evidence that only 500 were struck and delivered – 100 each on March 12, 15 and 18, and a final delivery of 200 on March 26, 1878. He also makes a good argument that the rare 7 tail feather proofs were not officially struck but were under the counter “specials.” To top it off, of the 500 officially struck, 16 were placed in circulation at the end of the year.

What is the largest U.S. proof set in the number of coins?

The answer will vary if you want all coins in a single set or merely total the number of proof coins in a single year. In early 1873 there were some 25 “complete” proof sets delivered that contained all of the coins (then currently being struck) from the cent to the $20 gold, most of the proof coins were issued either as part of individual sets such as the minor sets or gold sets. Later in the year, proofs were made of the silver coins with arrows added at date. In all, 20 different coins were struck as proofs in 1873. Nowadays with a 14-coin basic set, silver proofs, proof commemoratives, Eagles and Buffaloes, the number easily tops the number from 1873.

I can’t find a listing for a 1975-dated quarter. Didn’t they make quarters that year?

No quarters, halves or dollars with 1975 dates were minted because they were already striking the three denominations with 1776-1976 dual dates for the Bicentennial. The 1975 proof and mint sets were issued with the cent, nickel and dime with 1975 dates and the other coins with the 1776-1976 dates. For 1976, all of the coins in the sets had the 1776-1976 dual dates.