Collecting Proof Sets

We have a wonderful hobby, rich with a wide variety of coin series and of people and events that go into their creation and use. We do tend to focus on some series more than others, and so we hope that “Beyond the Mainstream” columns can provide us all with a broader view of the many facets of our hobby, and to see them in greater depth.

We live in a time where the United States Mint, as well as the other major mints of the world, produces beautiful proof sets, made to the highest possible standard and packaged in such a way that they will probably look pristine for decades or centuries to come. But the