U.S. Proof Coinage: 1880-1916

In previous articles appearing in Numismatic News during 2020 and early 2021, there has been coverage of the United States proof coinage through 1880. In the present article we shall examine the regular proof coinage through 1916, when it was suspended due to lack of interest on the part of both Mint and collectors.

Beginning in 1879 the Trade dollar proof coinage, which was still popular with collectors, was issued separately and not as part of the regular silver proof set. The reason for this is not quite clear since it was definitely not normal Mint practice to do so. Perhaps there was a realization that the denomination would never again be struck for use in the Orient.

From 1881 through 1883 the proof Trades were issued in considerable numbers, averaging about 1,000 pieces each year. However, on Dec. 4, 1883, President Chester Arthur sent a message to Congress in which he mentioned that the Trade dollar should “not be longer permitted to embarrass our currency system” because quite a few of them were still circulating in this country despite efforts to stop the practice. Mint officials took the hint, and sales to collectors were stopped at the end of 1883.

Although official minting of proof Trades ended in late 1883, actual minting did not. Dies