1990-S 1c-50c Proof Set, 5 Coins PR

Original Packaging: A two­-­piece, transparent plastic casing with frosted borders held a purple fiberboard insert containing holes for the coins. This was slipped into a purple cardboard box upon which the words “United States Mint Proof Set • 1990” were printed in silver script.

Commentary: The big story for 1990 was the S­-­less Proof cent. The cause of this error was the same as for previous Proof coins lacking their mintmark—it was simply omitted from the die when sent by the Philadelphia Mint. The number of these coins the Mint says was issued is 3,555, but the great rarity of this variety as compared to the other No S varieties suggests that the actual number is lower. 1990 is recent enough that many original purchasers of S­-­less sets may still have them sitting undetected, so more examples may yet turn up. A few of these error cents have been reported with the Prestige Proof sets for 1990.

Beginning this year, the Mint ceased to punch mintmarks into any of the Proof master dies, instead sculpting them as an integral part of a separate model from which master hubs and dies were reduced mechanically. The exact procedure involved is beyond the scope of this book, but what is important is the effect it had on variety collecting. No longer would there be repunched mintmarks, such as D/D or D/S. Furthermore, any die doubling that occurred would affect the mintmark too. Validation of this was not long in coming, as a few of the Proof quarters dated 1990 feature a doubled­-­die obverse in which the mintmark itself is boldly doubled! Another popular variety for this year is the Proof nickel with doubled motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

Source: Whitman