The 1955 Proof Set Started A New Era

PCGS - The 1955 United States Proof Set marked a transitional year for the popular annual mint product, and not in a way many may realize. No, there were no major design tweaks among the coins, nor were there any changes to the metallic composition of the coins; that wouldn't come until a decade later, when the 90% silver composition of the dime, quarter, and half dollar was replaced with copper-nickel clad. But what did happen in 1955 led to a generational shift in the way the U.S. Mint marketed and sold so many of its most popular products, and it goes back to plastic.

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The so-called modern era of the U.S. proof set began in 1936, which picks up where the U.S. Mint left off some 20 years earlier - when the Mint originally pumped the brakes on proof production. Once proofs were rolling off the production line again in the mid-1930s, these sets of collector coins were individually wrapped in pliable cellophane envelopes that were stapled together at the top of the five envelopes. This little bundle of cellophane-wrapped coins would then be placed into a cardboard box and sold to the collector.

This all changed in 1955, when a mid-year transition led to two different kinds of proof sets that year: the cardboard box format or the so-called "flat pack." The latter became quite familiar to many U.S. coin collectors, as this entailed a new type of packaging in American numismatic circles: pliofilm packets. These pliable cellophane packages mostly came with six fully sealed pockets, each enclosing a coin or Mint token. And such was the case with the 1955 U.S. Proof Set, which offered a 1955 Lincoln Cent, 1955 Jefferson nickel, 1955 Roosevelt dime, 1955 Washington quarter, 1955 Franklin half dollar, and a metallic octagonal Philadelphia Mint token, signifying the source of origins for those coins.

The 1955 United States Proof Set is a popular option for collectors, and many choose to build certified versions of these mid-century. The PCGS Set Registry offers an exciting five-coin objective for those who wish to build a stellar 1955 Proof Set consisting of a PCGS-graded 1955 Proof Lincoln Cent, 1955 Proof Jefferson nickel, 1955 Proof Roosevelt dime, 1955 Proof Washington quarter, and 1955 Proof Franklin half dollar. Such a PCGS Registry Set would represent an incredible challenge, especially for those who are looking for specimens grading better than PR68. Those who desire cameo specimens have an even taller order to fill! Yet, these incredibly exciting opportunities to build a beautiful 1955 Proof Set await on the PCGS Set Registry.