1941 1c-50c Proof Set, 5 Coins PR

Proof mintages rose again this year, with the quarter dollar still lagging a bit. As mintages rose, so did the number of dies used. This created a greater possibility of cameo Proofs, because such frosting appeared in the devices only when the dies were fresh. Even so, cameo pieces are rare for this date, as they are for all Proofs of 1936­ to ­1942.

The Proofs made in 1941 are slightly better than those of earlier years in at least one respect: the excessive die polishing that obliterated some of the more shallow design elements on earlier Proofs was not as evident this year. One particularly glaring exception is the 1941 half dollar die lacking the artist’s monogrammed initials, AW. This feature normally appears near the border at about four to five o’clock on the reverse, yet many of the Proof halves of this date are lacking the monogram entirely. It was polished right off the die, along with a number of other design elements that were either removed or greatly diminished. While some collectors seek this variety, it is really just a late state of the die and quite common. The discriminating hobbyist should attempt to find a sharp impression with all details complete.

Source: Whitman