Coins - 1969 Proof
Set
The US Mint continued the proof set packaging in 1969 first introduced in the previous year. The mintage number
for the 1969 proof set was just over 2.9 million, not quite making it to three million.
1969 Proof Set Package
The package included an outer blue card stock box measuring roughly 3 1/2 by 5 3/8 by 3/8 inches with white
script lettering stating "United States Proof Set • 1969." Inside, a clear plastic lens held the five proof coins.
(Note: In the early years of the box and plastic lens, the US Mint tried several different outer boxes. The
pictures below show only one version.)
The back of the 1969 proof set box lacked any identifying marks or additional lettering.
Like the package in the previous year, the box wrapped around the plastic lens without glue and fastened
together along one of the long edges with a tab.
1969 Proof Set Contents and Proof Coins
The blue card stock formed a snug cover for the lens of proof coins.
The 1969 Proof Set package included five coins held in a black plastic sandwiched between clear outer plastic
covers.
The 1969 Proof Set's Half Dollar continued with the 40% silver and 60% copper composition. Likewise, the Quarter
Dollar and Dime continued the clad composition of 8.33% nickel and the remaining of copper. The five cent coin
(nickel) was made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, and the cent was 95% copper and 5% zinc.
For the obverse of the proof coins, the clear plastic lens included a heraldic eagle formed in the plastic and
centered over the half dollar.
For the reverse, the lens included the clear script "United States Proof Set" molded in the plastic between the
nickel and quarter and below the half dollar.
Half Dollar:
The 1969 half dollar included the John F. Kennedy portrait. Kennedy's portrait facing left was developed by
chief engraver, Gilroy Roberts, very quickly after the president's assassination. The words on the obverse include
"LIBERTY" around the top and "IN GOD WE TRUST" across the bottom of the portrait with the date at the bottom of the
coin. The coin's reverse includes the heraldic eagle from the presidential coat of arms. "UNITED STATES oF AMERICA"
circles the top portion with "HALF DOLLAR" at the bottom. "E Pluribus Unum" can be found on the ribbon held by the
eagle.
Obverse Designer: Gilroy Roberts
Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
You can read more from the US Mint about the Story of the Kennedy Half Dollar.
Quarter Dollar:
In 1969, the obverse design included the portrait of George Washington and the words: "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE
TRUST" and the date. The US Mint introduced the quarter dollar with the portrait of our first president in 1932 to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth. On the reverse, an eagle stands with wings
outspread clutching a bunch of arrows in its talons with two olive sprays crossed beneath his tail feathers. The
words on the reverse include: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "QUARTER DOLLAR."
Obverse Designer: John Flanagan
Reverse Designer: John Flanagan
Dime:
The 1969 dime's obverse shows an image of President Franklin Roosevelt. After his death in 1945 and many
requests to honor the late president, the US Mint released the Roosevelt dime on the late president's birth date in
1946. The words on the obverse include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the year. The coin's reverse shows an olive
branch, a torch and an oak branch with the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" across them. The words "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA" flow around the top of the reverse with "ONE DIME" on the bottom.
Obverse Designer: John Sinnock
Reverse Designer: John Sinnock
Five Cents (Nickel):
The US Mint produced the first Jefferson nickels in 1938. The portrait of Jefferson on the coin's obverse copied
the portrait painted by Rembrandt Peale in 1800. Jefferson faces left in the portrait with the profile showing his
prominent forehead and colonial hair. The words on the face of the coin say "IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY" and the
year. The 1969 nickel's reverse shows Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia. "E
PLURIBUS UNUM" fits above Monticello, and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "MONTICELLO" and "FIVE CENTS" show below the
home.
Obverse Designer: Felix Schlag
Reverse Designer: Felix Schlag
Cent (Penny):
The US Mint presented Abraham Lincoln's image on the obverse of the one cent coin in 1909 to commemorate the
100th anniversary year of his birth. The image shows Lincoln facing to the right in the portrait
with his iconic beard, suit coat and tie. The motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST" was first introduced on coins with the
Lincoln cent. The coin's obverse also includes "LIBERTY" and the date. The 1969 cent's reverse shows the Lincoln
Memorial with the inscriptions, "UNITED STATES oF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "ONE CENT."
Obverse Designer: Victor D. Brenner
Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
1969 Proof Set Year Population and Cost of Living
The world population in 1969 was 3,637,276,383. This represents 53.1% of the world's population in 2010.
$100 in 1969 equals $594.16 in 2010 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Inflation Calculator.
New houses in 1969 cost an average of $27,900 which would be $165,771 in 2010 dollars.
The average income was $5,894 per year which equals $35,018 in 2010 dollars.
Gas was $0.348 per gallon which would be $2.068 in 2010 money.
The average new car was $3,330 equivalent to $19,785 in 2010.
(Chart views into the cost of living changes throughout the Proof Set
years)
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