Between 2001 and 2014, I had done very little coin collecting. I went to a coin show to see what had been out since 
2001. At one of the tables, I saw a 50th anniversary Kennedy Half Dollar
set from the US Mint. There was one from each mint, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and West Point and each one had a different finish. What caught my eye was the one from West Point. The finish was something I hadn’t seen before, a reverse proof.
Now the proof coins in Proof Sets had a frosty polish on the detail of the coin and a mirrored background. Like it says, the reverse proof is the opposite of regular proof with the background having a frosted finish and the details were mirrored. The first reverse proof was the 2006-W American Silver Eagle to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle Dollar.
Here is a current list of US Reverse Proof Coins:
- 2006-W American Silver Eagle Dollar (20th Anniversary – mintage 248,875)
- 2006-W Gold Eagle $50 (20th Anniversary – mintage 9,996)
- 2007-W Platinum Eagle $50 (10th Anniversary – mintage 19,583)
- 2011-P American Silver Eagle Dollar (mintage 99,882)
- 2012-S American Silver Eagle Dollar (75th Anniversary of new San Francisco mint building – mintage 281,792)
- 2013-W American Silver Eagle Dollar (75th Anniversary on West Point Depository – mintage 281,310)
- 2013-W American Buffalo Gold $50 (100th Anniversary of the Buffalo Nickel – mintage 47,836)
- 2014-W Kennedy Half Dollar
(50th Anniversary Kennedy Half Dollar – mintage 188,147)
- 2015-P Roosevelt Dime
(75th Anniversary of March of Dimes – mintage 75,000)
- 2015-W Truman Presidential Dollar
(mintage 17,000)
- 2015-W Eisenhower Presidential Dollar (mintage 17,000)
- 2015-W Kennedy Presidential Dollar (mintage 25,000)
- 2015-W Johnson Presidential Dollar (mintage 17,000)
They are also planning on releasing a reverse proof of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Dollar in 2016. In 2018, the US Mint plans on releasing a reverse proof set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Proof Sets being minted in San Francisco.
Reverse proofs can be seen in places outside the US including Australia, Canada and the Isle of Man.
I think the reverse proofs are cool to look at after all the years we have had with regular proofs. Currently I only have two of them: the 2013-W American Eagle Silver Dollar
and the 2014-W Kennedy Half Dollar. I love looking at both of them. I’d consider doing a reverse proof set, but I think the gold and platinum coins may be a bit difficult to include. Maybe just the silver and clad ones. It sounds like there will be a reverse proof set, but I wonder if they would do any beyond 2018? What do you think about reverse proofs? Do you like them more than the regular proofs?
My son started collecting coins a few years ago. I wasn’t aware of many of these Mint coins that have been are being planned for release. I like the look of the reverse mints. My son looks more at the amount of coins minted. I’m the one that appreciates the look and he appreciates the rarity. Do you know how many coins they plan to release in 2018?
Hey Jennifer! It’s great that your son is collecting coins. I’m not exactly sure what they will be including in the reverse proof set in 2018. I would guess the Lincoln Cent, Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt Dime, Washington Quarter, Kennedy Half Dollar and Sacagawea Dollar. What I know for sure is that I will want one!
hey thanks for this post I’m happy I came across it because I collected some of these kind of coins as a kid. Never heard of reverse proof though. What makes them so different from your standard coin collection? And also, how much does a set of reverse proof coins range from? Thanks.
Reverse proofs have only been around for about 10 years and there have been around a dozen different coins done. Mostly bullion coins make up the reverse proof though there was a reverse Half Dollar in 2014 and Dime in 2015. There are lower mintages of them than the regular proofs so they are probably more valuable than the regular issues.
Gees, I live in Australia and never knew what a reverse proof coin is. I’ve seen them in circulation and looked at them and wondered how a coin could be so beautiful. In which now that I know how valuable they are I don’t understand why someone would take them out of their collection But I’m left wondering if such a coin crosses my path again should I keep it and have it evaluated?
Wow, you have found reverse proofs on circulation? In the US, they have only come frome special sets from the mint and not in circulation. I wouldn’t think the circulated coins would be worth as much, but I could be wrong. Sure, if you do find a reverse proof, have it checked out.