Frosted letters on Deep Cam
seatedlib3991
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I am asking about the designation Deep Cameo. Does this only refer to the primary portrait and the featured representation for each State in the Silver State Quarter program or are the Letters and date suppose to be frosted too? James
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IMHO Deep Cameo should include lettering and date as well.
@GaCoinGuy. Is that a personal preference or are you aware of a grading guide that specifies that? My guides don't cover these grades. James
All coins that are designated DCAM must have frosting on all devices, portrait, date, and lettering.
Depends on if the lettering is in the same plane as the field. Anything above the plane of the field should be frosted.
Personal preference.
I was always of the opinion all raised surfaces should be equally frosted to garner a deep cameo designation. Not a collector of these, so if wrong, sobeit.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
This.
Although for modern coins, lack of frost might actually be worth more than deep cameo.
The national parks quarters have recessed letters. Maybe that's to which the OP is referring?
@jmlanzaf. No, I was trying to find out if there is a written standard for Deep Cameo and whether the date, lettering etc. is also suppose to be frosted. Many coins slabbed Deep Cameo do NOT seem to have frosted lettering and or partial. james
It will always be a conundrum with graded coins. I have no idea whether it is possible to have such a written specification for these type attributes. Some Full Step Jefferson Nickels totally vary in magnitude by the same grading company, Same with Full Band Roosevelt Dimes and Mercury Dimes. If it were written that Full Bands had to be rounded with a full deep division, their would be very few and if Full Step Jefferson's had to have 5 full steps with no blurs, tics or scars, again very few. So, it has been left up to the individual graders to decide, thus it varies. As a collector, one must decide to what level they will accept a grades specificity and the better the attribute, the more valuable the coin in the same grade and holder. JMO
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Can you post an example?
Coin Photographer.
you can look at coins at Great Collections and on E-Bay but I prefer not to denigrate anyone else's specific coin. James
I would like to see one also. It is very rare for modern proofs to not have full frost. If we were talking about older coins, that's a little more nuanced. You will see, for example, 1950 DCam coins that don't have the kind of thick frost of moderns and we could argue over whether it is "complete" or not.
If not viewed in hand, are you sure it's not just the photos?
@jmlanzaf. No I am not. Just one of the reasons I have so many questions. I have spent most of my life looking at circulated coins only. Also the reason I have considered just buying a few coins to get an in hand view. From pictures many coins have frost that seems to disappear when you try to read ALL the lettering. Without more info though I am pretty clueless. James
The only work you would be speaking of would be the mint's and the grading companies. As said, different graders have different opinions.
Jim
Edited to add. i have looked at 50 or so DMPL coins since yesterday and all were fully frosted(some heavier than others) the only ones that could be listed as without lettering or star frost were coins being held at an angle in the light to show the depth of reflection and the angle and lighting prevents viewing the peripheral areas, which in my opinion should not be done as the coin has been graded DMPL. Let the buyer see obv/rev full on, no extreme angles. I am sure if you view enough you will find some possibly without full frosting, but there are always qualitative issues with large amounts. JMO
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Here is a different approach. I have an 1853-O Seated Half in a PCGS F-15 holder. It is missing 3 letters from LIBERTY. I grade it VG-10 , I PAID vg-10 money. They can put AU-55 on the label for all I care. It has the prettiest blue/yellow toning so i bought it.
Go to the archives at Great Collections. Nov. 23 they sold a PCGS Dcam 70 Delaware coin for 45.50. Go to Sept 23 they sold a PCGS Dcam 70 Delaware coin for 202.50. There are numerous such varied results but I can't tell whether buy A got a bargain or buyer B knew something or whether that coin is more expensive for merit or what. james