Proof vs. Unc - Is the rarer of the two always the more valuable?

MrEureka

MS vs PR. Typically, the rarer of the two is worth more. Can you think of a situation where the opposite is true?

Assume the proof and the unc are both 64's so we don't get sidetracked by the finest known wonder coin outliers.

Leiana

1995 Civil War Battlefields Commemorative silver dollar.

Uncirculated(45,866) in 65 at 80 dollars and Proof(55,246) in 65 at 100 dollars. These figures are from the October issue of Coin Values.

But that's a modern commemorative and the spread is not very big.

-Amanda

tradedollarnut

No - PR64 1840 $1's [pop 4-5] sell for over $50k whereas MS64 1840 $1's [pop 2-3] are just under $50k.

sinin1

1877 indianhead cent?
1885 liberty nickel?

Aegis3

I would say the 1846 eagle but I don't think we can get the right grade agreement there for a good enough comparison.

Cam40

i see it differnt i guess per ms 64 vs pr 64
apples vs oranges

i think of a ms 64 as equivalent to about pr 67
or a 65 gem uncirculated is like a proof 68.

my reasoning is that proofs are made of such higher standards or more attention to detail
where a business strike is made for everyday commerce so, higher quality in ms is more a big deal

Cam40

....sorry, i missed to point of the thread..

Whitby

Are you asking if mintage numbers will be the sole determination of coin value.

If so, IMO, no, that is not typical in all cases. It should be, but not always. Examples here have already been posted, but take a look at Modern Commems or for that matter the current debacle on the Wisconson quarter leaf varieties or errors depending on who you speak with.

D

Some proof Barbers seem to go for less than their MS counterparts.

-Daniel

Russ

Two Cent Pieces.

Russ, NCNE

MrEureka

Are you asking if mintage numbers will be the sole determination of coin value.

No. I'm talking about the number of MS/PR 64's, not the mintages. The purpose is to provide some insight into how coins are valued. That the relative rarity of proofs vs uncs is the primary determinant of relative value may seem obvious to experts, but a novice could easily miss that.

tradedollarnut

That the relative rarity of proofs vs uncs is the primary determinant of relative value may seem obvious to experts, but a novice could easily miss that.

Actually, I'd say it's the relative demand that's more the primary determinant.

mercurydimeguy

The value of anything is correlated to the demand for the "thing" and the market supply to "satiate" the demand.

Look at the 1854 $3 Gold -- eBay and every other imaginable auction/store is littered with them, yet they continue to sell for ridiculous prices. The Pop's are in the 1'000's. Yet there is more demand (apparently) than supply.

Your post is applicable on a broader basis, and not necessarily just to one coin/date/denomination.

And yes, some MS65 Barber's, Liberty Nickel's, etc., will probably sell for more than a PR counterpart (supply/demand).



<< <i> Are you asking if mintage numbers will be the sole determination of coin value.

No. I'm talking about the number of MS/PR 64's, not the mintages. The purpose is to provide some insight into how coins are valued. That the relative rarity of proofs vs uncs is the primary determinant of relative value may seem obvious to experts, but a novice could easily miss that. >>