Want To Know About Proof Strikes

Proofs are special coins made for collectors and sold at a premium by the mint. They are made from dies and blanks specifically prepared for proofs and are struck under special conditions, usually with 2 or more separate strikes of the dies in order to bring up all the design details. The "proof strike" term helps indicate that proofs are distinct from ordinary "business strike" coins made for circulation.

Historically most proofs were made at the Philadelphia mint only. Those few proofs struck at other mints like San Francisco or New Orleans were called "branch mint proofs" and are very rare.

The Red Book shows the mintage values for each date and mint; for example, the 1921 Morgan dollar entries show separate numbers for the total output from the Philadelphia (no mintmark), Denver (D), and San Francisco mints for that year. The "rumors" entry means there are reports for some proof strikes at San Francisco but documentation is incomplete or unreliable.

For years in which proofs were issued the proof totals are usually shown in parentheses. There are many examples of coins that were only issued as proofs, like the 1873 two-cent and three-cent silver pieces or the 1877 Shield nickel.

Hope that helps!