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Prooflike vs. Semi-Prooflike

DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,043 ✭✭✭✭✭

How do you tell the difference between Prooflike vs. Semi-Prooflike?

Right now David Lawrence is offering a 1914-S Barber Dime MS66 as "Looks Prooflike" The Gen 6.1S PCGS label (2020- Present) does not say PL.

Q. David Bowers says most 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Commemoratives are prooflike. Yet, PCGS says there are NONE while NGC says there are 23.

I don't believe you can tell from a picture. But how do you tell?

Comments

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 13,377 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    How do you tell the difference between Prooflike vs. Semi-Prooflike?

    Right now David Lawrence is offering a 1914-S Barber Dime MS66 as "Looks Prooflike" The Gen 6.1S PCGS label (2020- Present) does not say PL.

    Q. David Bowers says most 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Commemoratives are prooflike. Yet, PCGS says there are NONE while NGC says there are 23.

    I don't believe you can tell from a picture. But how do you tell?

    From PCGS:
    “Prooflike
    PCGS has a set standard for designating a given coin as Prooflike, or “PL.” These grading standards are the following: There must be a clear reflection in the fields on both sides of the coin as viewed from two to four inches away. Cloudiness or striations may impede the reflectivity on eligible Prooflike coins.Oct 21, 2020”

    The PCGS and NGC populations you mentioned don’t indicate how many “there are”, but rather, how many they’ve designated, thus far.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Jzyskowski1Jzyskowski1 Posts: 6,650 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here’s a PCGS proof like

    🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶

  • CryptoCrypto Posts: 3,673 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Flashy minus cartwheel luster is often called PL or semi PL.

    Mirrors are the true test

  • WCCWCC Posts: 2,571 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's subjective. I have coins designated CAM that don't look like it in the holder. Also DCAM that look CAM to me.

  • LazybonesLazybones Posts: 1,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 15, 2021 1:29PM

    I have never seen "semi PL" on a holder EVER. That is a made-up term used as a marketing tool.

    With regard to the PL designation, I believe one service has been applying that designation to more denominations than the other service for quite some time now.

    Just my 2¢ (US).

    USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,626 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Lazybones said:
    I have never seen "semi PL" on a holder EVER. That is a made-up term used as a marketing tool.

    This is kind of a shame since many moderns don't exist as PL and even semi-PL's are rare.

    This may well apply to most US coins made for circulation.

    Tempus fugit.
  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Semi-PL is a marketing term indeed. But it's descriptive in that the coin is "almost PL" but just didn't get the designation. In other words, you can have a PL coin without the PL designation for half the price.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 13,377 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @pruebas said:
    Semi-PL is a marketing term indeed. But it's descriptive in that the coin is "almost PL" but just didn't get the designation. In other words, you can have a PL coin without the PL designation for half the price.

    Semi-PL might be a marketing term, but it can also be an accurate and descriptive one.
    In other words, you can have a partially reflective (semi-prooflike) coin without the PL designation for a substantially lower price. 😉

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @pruebas said:
    Semi-PL is a marketing term indeed. But it's descriptive in that the coin is "almost PL" but just didn't get the designation. In other words, you can have a PL coin without the PL designation for half the price.

    Semi-PL might be a marketing term, but it can also be an accurate and descriptive one.
    In other words, you can have a partially reflective (semi-prooflike) coin without the PL designation for a substantially lower price. 😉

    Totally agree. That's what I was trying to say. :o

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,139 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Lazybones said:
    I have never seen "semi PL" on a holder EVER. That is a made-up term used as a marketing tool.

    At one end, a coin can have no reflectivity in the fields at all. At the other end, the mirrors are strong enough to be considered at least prooflike. There's a continuum in between those two points where a coin retains some amount of lustre, but also shows some level of reflectivity. Semi-PL may not be a set standard, but if used honestly, it can give an idea of how the fields will appear.

    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research

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