What about this 1860-O proof? np.

Cowbilly

1860-O Seated Liberty Dollar... I have been surfing the net for inf. At this site LINK they state that there there are no proofs!? That would make it valuable. What do you know?

I sure it's a proof, but it is dull with toning or tarnish and I do not know if it has been cleaned, but doubt it.

nwcs

What are you looking at to determine if it is a proof? If the mint didn't report any proofs, it's not likely they made any officially. And a branch mint proof would be extraordinary. To my knowledge, it was never done till san francisco took over all the proofs in the 1960s.

Cowbilly

Good point! I guess the Mint can't be wrong. I don't know much about coins. My Father noted "proof" on the wrap that the coin was in. I looked at the coin and saw the glassy/glossy flats of the coin under the "toning'. I figured that that glassy smooth surface meant that a coin was a "proof".

If I'm wrong, please let me know.

coinguy1

cowbilly,

I can confidently state that there are no bonafide proof 1860-O dollars in existence.

Walter Breen reported one, unverified, but the price realized in the auction it appeared in, did not equate with that of a proof coin. Neither PCGS nor NGC has attributed any, either. There are a number of branch-mint coins with prooflike surfaces but that does not make them proofs. Finally, during the early and mid 20th century, many coins were referred to as proofs (even in well known auctions), merely because they had prooflike surfaces - that might be why your father had made the notation he did. Sorry I don't have better news for you.

Cowbilly

Thank you Coinguy, That explains much.
So, I know that it is not a real proof as a grader would grade. The darned thing is slick as glass though! Do you think that it shoud be graded by one of the big time companies out there? Do you think that it may still be very valuable? Or maybe I should just store it away?

coinguy1

cowbilly, if you could post images to this board, it would be a big help. Otherwise, I have no way of answering your questions about submitting it for grading, etc.

nwcs

Keep in mind that many coins from that era were polished and cleaned to give them that surface. A picture, though, is worth 1000 words in helping you identify it.

Cowbilly

Damn, I wish I could find out more. I don't own a dig. I'm going to have to shoot, develop and scan. Give me a few weeks, that's the best I can do.

nwcs

In the mean time, stick around!