I am currently in the process of putting together a 1908 proof set, I was wondering how they were distributed from the mint. All comments appreciated!
Before 1936, there was no such thing as a "proof set." Collectors could write to the mint, or visit the mint in person, and buy proofs for a small premium. You could mix and match, get five pennies, 3 dimes, 6 quarters. That is why the mintages are all different (if they were a set, they would all have roughly the same mintage). Any velvet case or holder would have been custom built, or bought from a store. There are a few exceptions for presentation sets, such as the famous aluminum set, or the King of Siam set. But most proofs were sold as singles.
I am a history nut and asked this very same question when I joined the forum.... I am going from memory (and that aint saying much), but as i recall the way I was told is that in the days before the ply-cello paper stuff that proof coins were presented in a velvet lined box sort of affair.
Before 1936, there was no such thing as a "proof set." Collectors could write to the mint, or visit the mint in person, and buy proofs for a small premium. You could mix and match, get five pennies, 3 dimes, 6 quarters. That is why the mintages are all different (if they were a set, they would all have roughly the same mintage). Any velvet case or holder would have been custom built, or bought from a store. There are a few exceptions for presentation sets, such as the famous aluminum set, or the King of Siam set. But most proofs were sold as singles.
