1984-S 1c-50c Proof Set, 5 Coins PR

Original Packaging: The year’s holder is similar to that of 1983, except as noted. A two­-­piece, transparent plastic 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 PROOF SET • 1984” were printed in silver script.

This format remained the Mint’s standard packaging for Proof sets for the next decade.

Commentary: The 1984­-­S Proof set had a mintage significantly lower than in 1983. Since sales rebounded the following year, it may be considered a statistical blip and not reflective of any trend.

The relief of the cent was drastically lowered in several stages, beginning in 1984. On this year’s cent, Lincoln’s upper arm has been hollowed out, an effect that is readily apparent in a side­-­by­-­side comparison with the 1983 cent. This action was taken to eliminate a striking problem that had plagued the Memorial cent since its inception in 1959. The motto e pluribus unum did not strike up fully on most cents made for general circulation because the height of Lincoln’s shoulder, directly opposite this feature on the obverse, was too high to permit complete filling of the dies in a single blow from the press. Of course, this was not a problem with Proofs, which were struck two or three times, but the same master hub produced dies for both circulating coins and Proofs.

Source: Whitman