Archive records concerning proof coins and medals available - 1885-1889

[RogerB]

The following volumes of correspondence have been digitized and are (or soon will be) available on NNP. These all relate to proof coin and medal orders. These were discovered amidst other documents and were not identified in any of the archive finding aids.

Each volume is 500+ pages.

It is believed that at one time similar volumes existed for the entire series of proof coins and medals beginning in about 1858. Additional volumes might turn up at any time.

RWB

RG104 E-6 Box 28 Vol 2 Jan 2 1885- Dec 27 1886-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 28 Vol 4 Dec 27 1886- Dec 14 1887-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 29 Vol 1 Dec 14 1887- June 16 1888-Medal Clerk

RG104 E-6 Box 29 Vol 3 June 16 1888- Mar 2 1889-Medal Clerk

[RogerB]

Here's a sample page from 1886.

787524986_18860216Orderformixedproofcoins.jpg.1651995bf8591d7ce39ee88295278626.jpg (190.2 KiB) Viewed 166 times

The manuscript reads:

February 16, 1886

George R. Dreese

Providence, R.I.

Sir:

In compliance with your order of the 10th inst., I send you by Adams Express three silver proof sets for 1885, two silver proof sets for 1886, five minor proof sets for 1886, one three dollar gold piece of 1886, one gold dollar 1886, and one Cleveland Presidential medal.

Very Respectfully

D. Fox, Superintendent

[RogerB]

Care to guess today's value of the silver dollars alone? How about the whole order?

[UNCLE BINGO]

More money than I've got

[Jodemyer]

Wouldnt that be nice! I hope the family still has them!

[messydesk]

The silver dollars started as coins that would be worth a good $10K a pop today, as did the gold dollar. If they weren't futzed with, they could have developed nice color and gone up. Of course, they could have also tarnished quickly in the humidity and been cleaned a lot.

I wonder if anyone has ever tried to track down descendants of documented 19th century mint customers looking for coins.

[RogerB]

For the short time period covered by the newly-located volumes, that might be possible. There are orders by well-known collectors and ones from ordinary people. Those from small towns might be easier to locate.

Also, although most orders are for proof coins or medals, there are many others for normal uncirculated coins. Some replies include the coins, while others say the MInt cannot distribute circulation coinage directly.