How do you tell CAM DCAM or no cam????

mbbiker

I have read alot of posts but never found the answer to this question. I have about 20 proof set from the 70's and 80's and wanted to look for cams but have no idea what to look for. thank you for your help.

coindaughter

HEY! I think I can answer this one!

Does this help? prooflike

wingedliberty

DEPTH, CONTRAST, CLARITY, REFLECTIVITY, AND LACK OF HAZE/SPOTS.

This is a cumulative effect. As someone once said. " I can't define it, but know it when I see it!"

Brian.

Russ

Comparison coins:



It should also be noted that both the obverse and reverse have to meet the designation.

Russ, NCNE

IrishMike

Experience, sometimes it's a close call, just like other calls, red, redbrown etc, full steps, full bands, on and on. There is just no substitute for experience. Even some of the best miss it.

mbbiker

thanks for the pics Russ does the frost(correct term?) on the coins head matter? I didn't think they put frost of coins pre 1960 did they?

also does the value go up much if it's a cam vs no cam?

coynclecter

Its easy to tell a cam from no cam, dcam can be a lot harder, for PCGS it has to be ALL dcam

Russ

mbbiker,

Yes the frost on the head matters, as it does for all the raised devices. But, it is only one determining factor. You can have a nice frosty head, but shiny lettering, and get no cameo designation. You can have all frosty devices with crappy no depth fields and get no cam designation. You have to look at the two areas in combination with each other.

There are pre-1960 CAM and DCAM coins. It's just that the mint wasn't as good at it as they are today, so they aren't as common as coins minted from 1971 on.

On modern proofs, the value is always higher on a CAM or DCAM coin then a brilliant for the same year. The degree of value difference varies considerably, though, depending on the coin's individual difficulty in achieving the designations.

Russ, NCNE

coynclecter

But Russ, by definition wouldn't a modern proof Kennedy in PR69 "brilliant" be much rarer than a DCAM and hence more valuable.

1907Quarter

it's a good question! thanks for the descriptions and demos everyone! A great forum I always say!

Russ

coynclecter,

Only in The Braddick Zone.

Russ, NCNE