After slipping below the one million mintage milestone in the prior year, the 1959 Proof Set (Buy on eBay) saw the interest in the offering rebound to reach 1,149,291. This was still below the peak sales achieved in 1957, but demonstrated that the Proof Set had become an annual tradition for many collectors.
Each 1959 Proof Set contained 91 cents face value in coins that were sold at an issue price of $2.10. Each set included the Franklin Half Dollar, Washington Quarter, Roosevelt Dime, Jefferson Nickel, and Lincoln Cent. The 1959 Lincoln Cent represented the first year that the new Lincoln Memorial reverse design was used. The previous Wheat Ears design had been replaced after fifty years of use.
Most Proof coins issued for this year are brilliant Proofs, with cameo and deep cameo coins less frequently encountered. Coins which exhibit cameo or deep cameo characteristics will carry premiums, particularly for the half dollar.
The United States Mint continued to use the same style of packaging for the 1959 Proof Set that had been established five years ago. The coins were sealed within individual compartments of a plastic cellophane. This plastic was placed within a yellow envelope with writing to indicate the Treasury Department issuance and the year of the set denoted as “1959 P.C.”
1959 Proof Set Coins
- 1959 Proof Lincoln Cent
- 1959 Proof Jefferson Nickel
- 1959 Proof Roosevelt Dime
- 1959 Proof Washington Quarter
- 1959 Proof Franklin Half Dollar
1959 Proof Set Information
- Coins per Set: 5
- Face Value: $0.91
- Original Issue Price: $2.10
- Mintage: 1,149,291
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