Question - Indian Cents

robertpr

How do you tell the difference between a proof and a MS Indian Cent? Are they like modern proofs and you will just know or are there design differences?

Lakesammman

When it's obvious, it's easy.

The proofs have mirror like fields, frosty devices, squared transitions between field/device and are fully struck. MS coins tend to have rounded (or at least less sharp) transitions between field/device, less completely struck and w/o mirrors. There can be some overlap as some MS coins are proof-like, either from fresh polishing of the dies or on occasion MS coins were struck from dies just used for proof production. Different eras look different too. It's harder to learn the edge differences in this era of slabbed coins.

For a good review, read either Bowers or Snow's books on IHC's.

robertpr

Thanks! I don't really want to read a whole book, I was more or less just curious.

airplanenut

Easy... what does the slab say?