1999 United States Proof Set

1999-S Proof Set

1999 saw the introduction of the 50 States Quarters; a ten-year program that presents five new Quarters each year, representing each of the different American States in the order in which they were added to the Union. The inclusion of the five new States Quarters in the Proof Sets of the year boosted sales to the 2.5 million dollar mark, which was a significant increase over the prior year, despite an almost 60 percent increase in the issue price.

Each set contained nine coins: One example each of the Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime (Copper-Nickel Clad), Kennedy Half Dollar (Copper-Nickel Clad), Delaware Quarter (Copper-Nickel Clad), Pennsylvania Quarter (Copper-Nickel Clad), New Jersey Quarter (Copper-Nickel Clad), Georgia Quarter (Copper-Nickel Clad), and Connecticut Quarter (Copper-Nickel Clad).

About the sets: All coins in the 1999-S Proof Set were intended to have a Cameo or Deep Cameo Finish. On May 15, 2002, the Mint announced that "unsold remaining inventory" consisting of 1999-S, 1999-S, and 2001-S Proof Sets would be offered in a three-set combination beginning on May 29, 2002. The price was $94.95 for the three-set combination (or $79.95 if more than 100 combinations were ordered). No limits were placed on individual orders, but total orders were limited to the available quantities of 150,000 three-set combinations. Almost immediately thereafter, the Mint announced that sales of the three-set combination would cease because of unspecified damage the sets suffered while in storage. All of the remaining sets were to have been destroyed.

Mintage: 2,543,401 sets

Original packaging: The 1999-S Proof Set comes in two cases. One case contains the Cent, Nickel, Dime, and Half Dollar; the other case contains the year's five 50 States Quarters. The coins are inserted into holes in a cardboard holder with a blue-colored flag design (to distinguish it from the red-colored flag design of the Silver Proof Sets), then sealed inside a two-piece, clear plastic case. The cases and certificates of authenticity were inserted into a colorful, card-stock box with the head of the Statue of Liberty printed on the left side.