Doug Winter Offering Original 1865 Proof Set

By CoinLink on Sunday, September 9, 2007
Filed Under: US Coins

We came upon this offering over the weekend and just could not resist. Below is the description of this set from the RareGoldCoins.com web site.

ORIGINAL 1865 PROOF SET WITH PRESENTATION CASE

This is easily the neatest item I purchased at the 2007 ANA show. It is an original 1865 Proof Set which is complete from Three Cent Nickel to Silver Dollar. It is accompanied by a very high quality contemporary case which I do not feel was produced by the Mint but by a Philadelphia area jeweler; it is very similar to the Union daguerreotype cases seen on Civil War era photos. The case, which is pictured below, is stamped “Oat September 8th 1865” on the top in gold. The inside of the case is lined in blue velvet and is accompanied by a note which reads as follows:

“Presented to Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Oat at their silver wedding Sept. 8th 1865 by Mrs. Henry C. Howell.”

1865 Silver Dollar There were a total of 500 examples of each of these denominations struck but the number of original Proof Sets that are still intact is probably no more than three or four, including a few that are impounded in museum collections. This set is unquestionably original as easily seen by the similarity of the coloration, not to mention the presentation box. From a historical and numismatic perspective, this is a very important year as well. In 1865, the No Motto coinage saw its final year of issuance and the new Three Cent Nickel denomination was introduced. The Civil War ended in 1865, giving this year considerable appeal to collectors with a historical bent.