Guide for Grading Proof coins?

dpoole

The Official Grading Standards for US Coins is a great primer for grading MS coins. Do you folks have suggestions for books about grading proofs?

FrattLaw

I just usually try to compare my coins with the graded coins that I have purchased or have already submitted to PCGS for grading. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything else that is a better reference. I find that the CAM - DCAM isn't that tough on modern proofs, but the 68 vs 69 is a difficult and subtle difference. So far I am at about 40%-69 and 60%-68 with only 1 CAM out of 11 coins. I really am a newbie at grading. All of the coins I have submitted have been 1970's proofs, I would guess that the 1990 proofs are even a bit easier.

Michael

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MW Fattorosi Collection

Eisenhower Proofs
SBA Proofs
Sac Proofs

FC57Coins

David - if anyone on here probably has info on proofs it's probably Russ.

Frank

michael

for me the only way to grade and understand proof coinage pre 1915 is to buy a pinpoint halagon lamp so you can look for hairlines at home on coins you already have in slabs and then to attend major shows and look at many coins in dealers stock already graded by the leading services and look under a pinpoint haligon lamp if the dealer has one set up and then see the grade and where the hairlines are and i think after looking at hundreds of coins over many shows in a years time i think you might be able to grade these it is based on lots of thinfs like strike series dates and how the coins generally come striated etc but a big part is the hairlines!

to me this is a good way to learn the grading of such coins

sincerely michael

pcgs grading guide is a good start to read about the proofs pre 1915 and see what the guide says then armed with this information you go out and look at as many slabbed coins proofs as you can under a pinpoint halagon light

for me all the information i know about grading such coins also deep cameo and cameo coins is just acquired talking to many coin people and looking at such animals over the last 35 or so years really no books per say

sincerely michael

goyankeez

Good Question!! I was actually searching the web today to find any information. I found this (no pictures though) Proof Grading Standards

Regarding Modern (post-1950) Proofs:

When I look at slabbed coins in 66, 67, 68, 69, nothing jumps out at me. I may be able to tell the difference between a 66 and a 69, but a 67/68 or 68/69? No way. I'm completely clueless.

Since circulated coins are so well documented in books (Photograde, Official ANA Grading Standards), I would love to see a book devoted to the differences in Proof grades. With plenty of pictures showing hairlines, striations, pitting, die polishing lines, etc.

oldcameoproofsguy

The PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection is a pretty decent start to technical grading of proofs.

Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 Era by Rick Tomaska has really great illustrations of watery brilliant proofs, cameo proofs and DCAM proofs. It gives a pretty good idea on the subtle differences between cameo grades.

Like Michael has pointed out, nothing is more valuable than actually looking at slabed coins and comparing the subtle differences first hand.

dorkkarl

depends. early proofs are graded much different than moderns. which are you interested in?

K S

dpoole

dorkkarl-I was thinking about post-1936 proofs, but I'd love to hear what you have to say about earlier proofs as well.

I got some 1936-1941 proofs back from PCGS and they're all over the lot. I could not see the bases for the differences, which ranged from PR62 to PR66.

Very good advice and information here. I'll dust off my haligon. Looks like we look at planchet problems and hairlines. Thanks!

dorkkarl

couple of MY rules of thumb:

pre-1936, hairlines visible w/out a glass are acceptable up to pr-64, visible only under the glass acceptable up to pr-66

post-1936, hairlines NOT acceptable above pr-60

"bagmarks" limit the grade to pr-65 in either case

"toning" is not relevant to tech. grade, but i personally will deduct for coins w/ ugly toning

having a "cameo" doesn't do much for me. i happen to love brilliant proofs, and i especially like matte proofs, of which i admittedly own only 1.

the ultimate classic proof is original w/ target toning framing well-struck devices. also, call me crazy , but i think RB copper proof coins (ihc, wheats) are beautiful as well.

all the above is my subjective opinion - you'll need to work out what's best for you . good luck!

K S