1996 U. S. Mint Premier Silver Proof Set - 5 coin set

1996 United States Premier Silver Proof Set (This set comes with a certificate of authenticity stated here): The United States Mint certifies that this Silver Proof Set of current United States circulating coinage from 1996 was produced and packaged at the United States Mint, San Francisco, California. Each coin bears the mint mark "S" designation of the facility. The half-dollar, quarter and dime are composed of coin silver, the nickel of cupro-nickel and the cent of copper-plated zinc. United States proof coins are produced from carefully selected planchets, or coin blanks, that have been burnished to a high luster. The polished blanks, which are carefully handled to minimize scratches and abrasions, are struck on specially adapted coining presses. Each coin is struck at least twice to bring forth the most minute detail with remarkable clarity. The surfaces of the coinage dies used for striking proof coins are meticulously processed to create a frosted appearance of the image on the die. The background surface is polished and buffed to a mirror-like finish. The dies are also buffed during the striking process. The finished coin, with its frosted cameo image on a mirror-like field, is carefully inspected--with gloved hands to protect its surface--before being assembled into sets. The proof coins are then placed in transparent presentation cases. As is this set. Proof coins, referred to as "Master Coins" in the early days of the Mint, were originally produced to "prove the correctness of the dies." These first pieces, struck with extra care and bearing a high polish, were reserved for the Mint's Cabinet of Coins Collection and sometimes used for special presentations. They were first offered for sale to the public around 1858 and are produced under the authority of the United States Code and amended on November 15, 1990 to authorize sale of these special Silver Proof Sets to the public. Silver proof coins are a supplemental program of the United States Mint, produced at no cost to the government, with profits deposited to the General Fund of the Treasury of the United States. Note: The Premier Silver Proof Set presentation case is specially designed to display the coins in an upright position. If you wish to store the coins separately from the case, just slide or pull it from the metal track (an illustration accompanies the set). Note: The Set is beautifully mounted in an attractive outer box. Inside is a black velvet case with a silver medallion on top within which are the coins. It opens to the same black velvet and an inner white silk like finish.