Customers Note: This is a presale item and is not expected to ship until around December 31st, 1969. EVERY order containing this item will be held from shipping until that date. Please note that this date is a rough estimate and solely depends on the mint meeting their production schedule.
The US Mint sold 4,063,083 of the 1981 Proof Sets, which is second only to the 1976 Bicentennial Proof Set in sales. This was the last year that the Proof Sets included the Susan B. Anthony Dollar. The Anthony Dollar was not popular in circulation, therefore, in 1981, the Mint only produced it for issue in Proof Sets and Mint Sets. The Proof Sets in 1981 consisted of 6 coins for the last time until 1999. The price of the 1981 Proof Set increased from $10.00 to $11.00. All coins in the Set were intended to have a cameo or deep cameo finish. This Set was made by the US Mint in San Francisco. Currently, these 1981 US Mint Proof Sets are available for purchase from Silver.com.
Coin Highlights:
- Received in a black plastic frame with an outer box!
- Contains six 1981 coins from the US Mint!
- Proof specimens.
- Total of 4,063,083 proof sets issued in 1981.
- Each coin bears its respective face value in US dollars.
- Each denomination has its own obverse and reverse design.
- Please note – some sets may be missing the outer envelope/sleeve/box.
Each Proof Set contains one each of the Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter, Kennedy Half Dollar, and Susan B. Anthony Dollar.
The 1981 Proof Set coins have 2 distinctly different mint marks, known as Type 1 and Type 2. The Type 1, or Round Top, is a worn version of the 1979 Type 2, or Flat Top, that had deteriorated by 1981. The Type 2, or Flat Top S, is more clearly defined. The most valuable 1981 Proof Sets contain all coins of the Flat Top S variety.
The US Mint made the Anthony Dollar for only 4 years (1979 – 1981, and 1999). The government hoped it would replace the paper dollar in circulation, however, the coin was very unpopular with the public. When the Anthony Dollar did make its 1-year reappearance in 1999, it was not placed in Proof Sets.
The 1981 Proof Sets utilized the down-sized packaging from 1980. The coins were placed into individual slots in a red plastic insert, which was sealed in a clear plastic case. A black plastic sleeve – which served to protect the Set and could be used as a stand – slid over the clear plastic case. The outer cardboard box had a single opening at the top to slide the main holder into.
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