Home› U.S. Coin Forum

Is a cameo an error?

CoinOnTheCobCoinOnTheCob Posts: 712
in U.S. Coin Forum
Anybody who has read my posts doesn’t have to flip a coin to decide whether or not I’m new at coin collecting. The coins I possess would almost fill a single bucket. Most were acquired by purchasing “unsearched” lots on eBay. Even though I’m new, I had no illusions that the lots were actually unsearched or that they would contain overlooked riches. I did hope that they would expose me to a broad selection of coins in a broad selection of grades.

Earlier this year I purchased a United States Mint Silver Proof Set – 2004. I was looking at it again today and noticed that every one of the coins would accurately be described as “cameo.” I read the Certificate of Authenticity and it said that, in addition to starting with highly polished planchets, “Each coin is struck at least twice to bring forth the most minute detail with remarkable clarity.”

This long-winded preface brings me to my question. If you find a coin in change that has a cameo effect, has it been struck by the die twice? Is it a beautiful error?
imageimage

Comments

  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    Proof coins have specially prepared dies. These days almost all proof coins exhibit Deep Cameo contrast. There are some circulation strike coins that are slightly proof like. These are very scarce and are not usually close to proof coins. So if you find a proof like coin in change it is luck, not an error. It is very unlikely you will see one with Deep Cameo contrast like your proof set. If you do check the mint mark, it might be that someone put a proof coin into circulation.
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • itsnotjustmeitsnotjustme Posts: 8,777 ✭✭✭
    No.

    Cameo is not due to striking twice, it is due to the treatment of the surfaces of the die. A cameo in circulation can come from...

    a. A proof or SMS coin entering circulation
    b. Some circulation strike coins, usually very early strikes can exhibit some cameo.
    c. Doctoring of the coin.

    Give Blood (Red Bags) & Platelets (Yellow Bags)!
  • clackamasclackamas Posts: 5,615 ✭
    Circ coins can and do have prrof like looks even though they were struck once. The cameo comes from the die and many dies, when new will have a cameo look to the coins struck. NGC give a PL (Proof Like) designation to coins made for circulation that are like proofs.

  • ChuckCChuckC Posts: 1,600
    Sacagewea Dollars are usually prooflike. NGC has assigned many of their Sacs the "PL" (prooflike) designation.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Is a cameo an error? >>



    That's actually a pretty interesting question. For current mint production the obvious answer is no, a cameo is not an error. The mint produces them deliberately. But, if you go back in time to the early 1950's you'd almost think finding a cameo is an error!

    Russ, NCNE
    eBay consignment sales | | Collectibles from Resco CCC
  • CoinOnTheCobCoinOnTheCob Posts: 712
    Carl Wohlforth, you said that I should check the mint marks on coins to see if they are proofs that were put into circulation. Does that mean that all mint sets come from San Francisco and that SF does nothing but make mint sets?
    imageimage
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Does that mean that all mint sets come from San Francisco and that SF does nothing but make mint sets? >>



    Current proof coins are produced in San Francisco. This began in 1968. Prior to that, (1964 and earlier), proof production was Philly. Mint sets contain coins from Denver and Philly, but if you go back in time, they also contain S mint coins.

    Russ, NCNE
    eBay consignment sales | | Collectibles from Resco CCC
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭


    << <i>a. A proof or SMS coin entering circulation
    b. Some circulation strike coins, usually very early strikes can exhibit some cameo.
    c. Doctoring of the coin. >>


    d. Collectors putting proofs into circulation...
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,636 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Some circulation issues are inadvertantly struck twice. Some dies used for circulation
    issues are basined (like proof dies). Used proof reverse dies are sometimes used to
    strike coins for circulation. Extremely well struck circulation issues are sometimes very
    PL and a few of these will have some cameo effect. Many of the mint set Lincolns from
    the '80's and later look very much like branch mint proofs. There is no hard and fast
    dividing line between proof and unc and there never really was. Certainly frosted PL's
    in circulation are highly unusual, though.

    Some would constitute an error on at least some level. Partially processed proof dies
    used to produce business strikes were probably not used intentionally. Proof reverse
    dies probably were used intentionally.
    Tempus fugit.
  • CarlWohlforthCarlWohlforth Posts: 11,074 ✭
    Russ has the answer. Yes a coin with an S mint mark dated 1968 or newer is a proof. If you find one in circulation cool! If it doesn't have an S it isn't proof.
    Carl's Coins website w/ links to Carl's auctions
  • clackamasclackamas Posts: 5,615 ✭


    << <i>Russ has the answer. Yes a coin with an S mint mark dated 1968 or newer is a proof. If you find one in circulation cool! If it doesn't have an S it isn't proof. >>



    The Lincoln cent had circ "S" mint coin struck until 1974, and Jefferson untill 1970.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Home • U.S. Coin ForumComment As ...