When I was about 9 years old, I began collecting coins. I had a buffalo nickel, an indian head penny and some wheat pennies. One year for my birthday, I received a very special gift: United States SPECIAL Mint Set. I didn't know exactly what made it "special", but I remember being amazed at all these old coins in such shiny perfect condition.

I didn't know that only the half-dollar was still made of 40% silver, the only silver in this set. But it didn't matter, they were so shiny!

As I compose this post, my curiosity got the better of me and I investigated why this set is called "special". This is what I found:

After 1964, no Proof Sets or Mint Sets were issued until 1968. In the interim, the U.S. Mint issued what was called a Special Mint Set. These sets were similar to a Proof Set in that the 5 coins tended to have mirror surfaces, but not to the brilliance normally found for a true Proof Set. The preparation of the planchets and dies used for these coins did not meet the strict definition of that required for a PROOF designation. Nevertheless, these coins are quite beautiful and distinctly different from that of regular issues for these years. Source

My conspiracy mind says "coverup". Or at least, "Let's not make it too obvious what we did."

So Special

After 1964, they were flooding the economy with dross 1965 quarters and dimes, attempting to remove the constitutional silver from circulation. Perhaps they didn't want to have a 1964 proof next to a 1965 proof side-by-side as an illustration (with a beautiful mirror finish) of the fraud perpetrated on the American people.

Instead, they made these "special" mint sets in 1965-1968. In reality, the 1964 proofs were the "special" set, containing 90% silver in the Half-dollar, quarter and dime.

By the '80's people had gotten over the fraud, mesmerized by Space Shuttles and popular culture.

Extra Special

Interestingly, in 1983 the US mint began minting "Prestige Proof Sets" which are extra special illustrating all the dross coins in super-shiny proof form, even including a token commemorative dollar coin proof, in a very nostalgic 90% silver, just like the good old days.

Real Nostalgia

The real nostalgia is not the silver, but the memories attached to this particular set in my collection, as a child admiring all the shiny. It was prominent in my collection when I would show my friends, who didn't know anything about collecting old coins. Not that there are all that old, (although they seemed old to me), they were really shiny and pretty.

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Benjamin Turner: God fearer. Rooted in Messiah. Husband of @lturner. Father of SIX wonderful children. The guy behind the camera. Blockchain enthusiast.

Bless the Most High!

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