Frost Breaks....Can a coin have one or more and be CAMEO?

tsacch

When at the last show, I had a discussioni with a gent over frost breaks and a 1956 Proof set. The Franklin looked cameo from the outside of the well handed mint wrapping and it was sweet for what it was, however, I was concerned.

The hair/face borders had three or four areas that were missing frost... about 1/32" X 1/4" being the biggest spot and a few smaller ones.

I was wondering, would a Frankie get the cameo designation or would it miss for frost breaks....wish i had a pic....

tom

Russ

Yes, even with minor frost breaks a coin can grade cameo - or even deep cameo. Your 1956 proof Frankie is the perfect coin to illustrate this. They are common with minor breaks in the hair or cheek area and many still grade DCAM anyway. It's the overall look, frost level, contrast, and mirror depth that garner the designation.

Russ, NCNE

JrGMan2004

Hey Russ, isn't there one Kennedy Half die that has a spot/"birthmark" that has no frost? I believe you showed us when you finally found one on EBay...

airplanenut

Don't forget that the frost is often dulled in the cellophane... it could have much better contrast than what you see.

Jeremy

Russ

<< <i>isn't there one Kennedy Half die that has a spot/"birthmark" that has no frost? >>



Yep, the birthmark obverse die on the 1967 SMS. One of them is a plate coin in Tomaska's book.



BTW, I scored another recently.

Russ, NCNE

RGL

Ditto, what Russ said. My MS-66 DCAM SMS 1967 SMS has a tiny unfrosted spot in the deepest spot of the obverse die, right in front of Kennedy's eye ... It is not distracting and it did not keep it from DCAM.

tsacch

Maybe I am spoiled seeing some great cameos, but to my eye it was distracting. ......still nice overall.