GB Crowns/Florins: 1887-1900, how to tell bus. strikes from proofs?

Doogy

I've seen a few GB Crowns and Florins from this time that were superbly struck and had that proof strike look to them. I know one of the ways to tell a US 20th century proof coin is to look at the edge; business strikes are more rounded, where proofs are sharply verical at the edges. are there any fast and hard rules for telling the two apart for Crowns and Florins of this era, especially when they are toned and little reflectivity is left? thanks!


Doug

7Jaguars

Yes, there can even be cameo on the PL currency strikes. However, usually with a regular knife edge to the coin, and not just areas of it and thus "squaring" the edge of the coin in profile would give the coin away as a proof.

Also, except for the 1887 and 1893 dates, I would progress with extreme caution only if a particular coin is claimed as proof as true proofs as opposed to PLs of other dates are prohibitively rare (and possibly not worth premiums charged at least in my opinion)....

coinpictures

IMO the denomination where this is the most prevalent is the double florin. I have seen many business strikes that are extremely PL. In fact I just bought an 1887 Arabic 1 that the previous owner had submitted to PCGS as a proof, and came back as an AU55. It has the full deep mirrors of a proof.

MacCrimmon

This proof florin is all I have handy at the moment, but the mirrors are not just PL, but DMPL.

Here is an image of the florin.....




Here is the detail of what the lions should look like......




Finally, the harp shows some proof diagnostics relating to tooling marks, etc.




gotta go for now.

7Jaguars

Hey Mac, I like the closeup photos - anything easy about them for the rest of us to be able to take such?

MacCrimmon

<< <i>Hey Mac, I like the closeup photos - anything easy about them for the rest of us to be able to take such? >>



Sorry!!

Those were taken by Phil at PCGS using the TrueView service several years ago.

Here's some excellent info, though.

If Mr. Goodman isn't at the head of the coin imaging class, it sure doesn't take long to call roll.

Doogy

thanks very much for the info, guys; that helps!

wybrit

How to tell bus. strikes from proofs?

Check the coin edges. The proof's milled edges are much sharper and lack any concavity (in other words, they are rectangular).

Doogy

thanks Wybrit, good to have you back!

just to be sure, as i have a Jubilee head toner that that is well struck and has me thinking it may be a proof, here is the coin edge. I'm thinking business strike now, but wanted to hear your input. thanks!

Doug

lordmarcovan

<< <i>GB Crowns/Florins: 1887-1900, how to tell bus. strikes from proofs? >>

Look at the pricetags.

lordmarcovan

Oh, and Mac...?

wybrit

Doogy, that is a business strike.

Doogy

<< <i>Doogy, that is a business strike. >>



thanks Wybrit, figured as much. it would have been a lucky find to have scored the proof version!