British proofs

Blackhawk

Over the years on this forum, I've read more than once about looking at the edge of British coins to determine if the coin is a proof. What are you looking for that tells you whether it's a proof coin?

spinaker2000

I guess your talking about the "wirelike" rim.

Blackhawk

What does the "wirelike" rim look like besides a wire?

wybrit

Coincraft has a tip to distinguish proofs from early strikes for 1887 and 1893 pieces. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to tell them apart as it may seem.

Quote from Coincraft:
On the proof, the 'knife edge' of the milling is of the same width straight across and is so sharp that it almost cuts the fingers; on an ordinary coin the indentations forming the milling have a slightly convex appearance.

Many jubilee head coins have a prooflike appearance, even on dates other than 1887.

coinkat

Wybrit:

You continue to be a wealth of helpful information... Thanks again

edited to add:

I bought two 1887 proofs... a Half Crown and Florin there graded by NGC...These can be quite attractive