NEW BOOK: UNITED STATES PROOF COINS 1936-1942

A stunning new book, United States Proof Coins 1936-1942 by Roger W. Burdette, has just been released by Seneca Mill Press LLC.

This much anticipated book covers proof coins made at the Philadelphia Mint from 1936 through 1942 in detail. Subjects include background and origin of the series, the number of pieces struck from each die, when dies were pulled from service, delivery dates of coins, plus quantities sold and returned for destruction.

The coins are examined both by year of issue, and individually by date and denomination. Clear, logical text and hundreds of full color illustrations provide the collector and numismatic professional with encyclopedic coverage of the fascinating series.

The table of contents, below, reveals the extent of United States Proof Coins 1936-1942 research information included in the publication.

Overall, there is surprisingly little duplication of content between the chapters. Author Roger W. Burdette noted, “It has been amazing to go through the data and analysis, and then see unexpected results and explanations appear – almost magical.

Based on Mr. Burdette’s research into never-before-seen U.S. Mint documents and notebooks, United States Proof Coins 1936-1942 resolves many long-standing mysteries of the proof series. Among these are the origin of “1940 reverse of ’38 nickels,” “1939 reverse of ’40 nickels,” production of “cameo proofs,” and quantities actually sold during the year of issue.

The book is 330 pages, full color, and 8-1/2x11-inches with hundreds of illustrations. Each book includes a CD-ROM containing the full text in searchable format. Experience with this approach for the book From Mine to Mint demonstrated that a CD is a much more effective, convenient and accessible indexing method that the traditional printed approach. The digital file may also be transferred to the purchaser’s portable digital device for use away from home or office.

Roger Burdette has turned his exceptional research and writing to the topic of 1936 to 1942 proof sets some 80ish years after they were produced. This full color book with hundreds of illustrations covers this series in detail down to the number of pieces struck from each die, when dies were pulled from service, delivery dates of coins and quantities sold and returned for destruction. Burdette reports that it was amazing to go through the data and analysis, and then see results and explanations appear – almost magically (and you know how we love magic at Wizard Coin Supply!). The Forward by noted author, researcher and coin dealer Q. David Bowers summarizes United States Proof Coins 1936-1942, Eightieth Anniversary Edition exceptionally well:

As a reader of all of Roger W. Burdette’s books I have learned there is a truism: they are so carefully researched with original source material that any writer following in the same topic is likely to be able to add little if anything of importance. And so it is with his latest study, United States Proof Coins 1936-1942. Although I have bought, sold, and read about these sets ever since I started in business as a young teenager in 1953, I found I had a lot to learn. Now, finally, I might be able to call myself an expert on these Proofs—that is, if I can remember the 1,001 details I have just read!

The book is more than a text about coins. It is about people, places, and things as well. By way of introduction you will first read about Proof sets being prepared in 1858, when they were first generally offered to the public, then skip over the years to 1916 where you will learn that the reason we did not have Proof Winged Liberty Head (“Mercury”) dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty half dollars with the advent of these designs in 1916 is that their sculptor-designers Adolph A. Weinman and Hermon A. MacNeil objected to such a finish. Going further ahead you will meet numismatically important Lewis Howe, who I had not heard of before, but now know he was essential to the creation of Proof coins in 1936—the inauguration to the era covered in this absorbing book.

Binding: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Publication Date: April 4, 2017
Size: 8.5x11
Pages: 330
Price: $39.95

Time was when a Proof set was a Proof set was a Proof set for any given year. All had standard prices. Then something happened: over a period of years collectors and dealers became very “fussy” or particular. Upon close inspection many Proof sets were found to have rubbing or hairlines from repeated cleaning to keep them “bright.”

Roger Burdette explains grading in detail and also the population, or number of coins graded reports, issued by the two leading services, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). You will learn why lower grade Proofs are much rarer than Proof-67 to 70 coins in terms of the numbers certified. How can that be? The author reveals the answer. You will also see coin-by-coin his estimates of how many Proofs exist at given grade levels.

Detailed descriptions, often in the form of what could be called illustrated essays, are given of Proofs denomination by denomination, year by year from 1936 to 1942. As an example, you will learn more about Felix O. Schlag and his 1938 Jefferson nickel design—fascinating details—than you could find on your own by spending a day on the Internet.