While United States Proof sets have been produced continually from 1858 to 1916, intermittently to 1964, and continually since 1968, only in recent decades has the U.S. Mint paid much attention to its own packaging of these coins. Since 1968, the Mint has delivered all of its Proof sets in rigid plastic holders that both display the coins in an attractive manner and offer excellent protection from contact and environmental damage. While the degree of safety may be affected by the storage environment one selects for his or her collection, the Proof set holders themselves provide a relatively stable home.

This evolutionary development, however, was a long time coming. The collector of 1858 received Proof coins in, at most, folded individual tissues. These coins could be purchased in person from the Philadelphia Mint’s medals clerk, or they could be ordered by mail. In either case, the coin was packaged with only the slightest protection from mishandling. It was up to the collector to devise a long-term means of storage for the Proof coins.

These tissues remained in general use by the Mint until Proof coin sales were suspended in 1916. Twenty years later, in 1936, Proofs were once again offered to the public as either single pieces or complete sets of five coins. Instead of tissue, however, each coin was placed within a small cellophane sleeve, and the sleeves stapled together at the top for orders of two or more coins. While similar in form to the polyethylene sleeves still used in the hobby today, these early products were more chemically reactive and often toned the coins. The cellophane envelope had glued seams, and the seam line often transmitted a gray or black line to the coins, especially those in silver. Most commonly seen is a somewhat milky haze that is light tan in color. While some collectors like to see this toning as a sign of originality, the irregular shape it often assumes does not appeal to most.

Proof set sales were suspended after 1942, due to the war effort, and they resumed in 1950. Only complete, five-coin sets were offered thereafter, but the packaging remained similar. The five sleeves were stapled together at one end or corner, and this bundle was placed inside a small cardboard box. Crumpled paper was used to limit the sleeves’ movement within the box, which was then taped shut. Each boxed set was packaged within a larger box for mailing, according to how many sets were ordered.

Cellophane sleeves were used through 1953, but these were replaced the following year with polyethylene. This reduced the hairlines scratches often caused by the coarser 1936 through 1953 sleeves, and it also imparted an odd, purplish toning to many of the 1954 and 1955 Proofs.

Midway through the 1955 deliveries, the U.S. Mint switched to a different packaging altogether. The “box set” was replaced with the more appealing “flat pack” in which all five coins and a Mint label were heat-sealed between two sheets of transparent polyethylene. Each coin was held in place within its own window formed by the heat sealing pattern, which permitted viewing of the entire coin. The sealed set was then placed within a paper envelope of similar size that also included a fact sheet about the set. The sealed envelope could be sold by the Mint as it was, or, for multiple set orders, placed within a mailing box.

The flat pack remained standard packaging for all Proof sets through 1964 and for the Special Mint Sets of 1965. In 1966, however, the Mint responded to the growing popularity of rigid plastic holders offered by the commercial sector by devising a rigid holder of its own. These were used for the SMS coins of 1966 and 1967 and presented a very attractive display. The more elaborate packaging also went a long way toward alleviating collector frustration with the price increase that accompanied introduction of the Special Mint Sets.

A further advance was made with the framed picture format used for Proof sets starting in 1968. In one form or another, this basic concept has been retained ever since.

This article is condensed and excerpted from “Collecting and Storing Proof Sets,” in A Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets. For more from David W. Lange on Proof coins and sets of the United States, read A Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets.