Proof Coinage: 1874-1880 Part Two
Editorâs note: This is the second of two articles covering the proof coinage of 1874-1880. Part One appeared in the Jan. 5 issue of Numismatic News.
The year 1878 opened with the Mint under strong pressure from Washington to begin the new dollar coinage as soon as possible. The actual law authorizing the new coin was not passed until Feb. 28, but it was common knowledge that the enabling bill would soon become law. It did, but over the veto of President Rutherford B. Hayes. This was ironic, because he was given the very first coin regularly struck by the presses.
The first 200 silver proof sets of 1878 were delivered on Jan. 29. Although it has been stated in print that the early 1878 silver proof sets contained coins of 1877, this is not correct as it is known with certainty that proof coins of previous dates were not delivered in following years. Researchers are occasionally misled because of the odd bookkeeping practices sometimes found in Mint documents of the period.
These first 200 sets were sold rather quickly to collectors and dealers, because another 100 sets were delivered on the 7th of February. Feb. 19 would see 100 more sets while March 18 witnessed 200 additional sets being taken by the coiner to the office of
