PR, CAM, DCAM???

Archipelago

Hi guys!

I have a question. When buying a silver proof set, what is the determining factor between PR CAM and DCAM? Are they in an actual different set, or is the grade based on how the coin in a set looks?

Really appreciate your help!

joebb21

dcam vs. cam is how far the coin is mirrored

I believe 1-4 inches=proof
4-8= cameo
8 and over =dcam

something like that

joebb21

welcome aboard by the way

Cameonut

From about 1978 to the present the vast majority of US proof sets contain all deep cameos. At that time the mint improved the process for making/retiring dies so all the coins were of very high quality.

Prior to that, the coins would be deep cameo off of fresh dies. As the dies wore out, they would degrade to cameo and then to brilliant proofs. Some dates are very hard to find even in cameo and as such command high premiums to collectors. PCGS and other third party grading companies each have their standards for what constitutes and cameo or a deep cameo. To make deep cameo, the fields must be deep and the devices heavily frosted.

Hope that helps.

Kameo

A general rule: A proof coin will have no frost on the devices. A cameo coin will have some frost on the obverse and reverse devices with a mirror-like fields. And a deep cameo coin will have heavy frost on the obverse reverse devices, with no frost breaks, and a mirror-like field.