1996 Proof & Mint Set Pair

Product Description

The U.S. branch mint at West Point had previously struck only some modern commemoratives and silver and gold eagles. To honor the 50th year of the Roosevelt series, in 1996 a dime was planned with the the distinctive "W" mintmark.

Ultimately, the special dime was only issued in the year's mint set, whose output ended at just 1.5 million. Since none entered commerce, the "W" dime is especially coveted and many 1996 mint sets have been broken up to obtain them, leaving fewer intact sets today.

That same year, just 1.7 million proof sets were issued, resulting in the lowest proof set mintage produced from 1960 to that date.