I bought 3 1961 proof sets today with cameos. Unknown to me one half is a DDR,........ specifically.
SanctionII
Posts: 12,245 ✭✭✭✭✭
....................... the "Big One".
The main reason I bought the sets is that one set has a monster dime that I would say is DCAM and the other two sets have what appear to be Cameo halves. The dime has two sided frost on the devices and deep black mirrored fields. The obverse frost is off the charts thick and white. By far the best 1961 proof dime I have ever seen. It will upgrade my best 1961 proof set significantly.
I looked at one of the halves and to my astonishment "E Pluribus Unum", "United States Of America", "Half Dollar" and portions of the left side [as you look at the coin] of the bell are doubled. Strikingly so.
I looked through past threads on 1961 DDR halves and looked at pictures of the "Big One" contained therein. I looked at my new coin multiple times with a 10x loupe and compared it to the photos. Much to my surprise, my new half does appear to be the "Big One". Further, the coin has no hairlines or other blemishes so it should grade at least a 66. In addition to the DDR, you have two sided frost and black mirrored fields.
Can you say "early Christmas present"
Also the half in the third 1961 set appears to be a Cameo, but it is not a DDR.
The main reason I bought the sets is that one set has a monster dime that I would say is DCAM and the other two sets have what appear to be Cameo halves. The dime has two sided frost on the devices and deep black mirrored fields. The obverse frost is off the charts thick and white. By far the best 1961 proof dime I have ever seen. It will upgrade my best 1961 proof set significantly.
I looked at one of the halves and to my astonishment "E Pluribus Unum", "United States Of America", "Half Dollar" and portions of the left side [as you look at the coin] of the bell are doubled. Strikingly so.
I looked through past threads on 1961 DDR halves and looked at pictures of the "Big One" contained therein. I looked at my new coin multiple times with a 10x loupe and compared it to the photos. Much to my surprise, my new half does appear to be the "Big One". Further, the coin has no hairlines or other blemishes so it should grade at least a 66. In addition to the DDR, you have two sided frost and black mirrored fields.
Can you say "early Christmas present"
Also the half in the third 1961 set appears to be a Cameo, but it is not a DDR.
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Comments
or should I say
bingo.....................pics
It should make your year (2011) and keep you interested in hunting for more.
Congrats! A very rare find.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Do you think you can get your 1961 DDR half in a Cameo holder? Very rare in Cameo. I have one that I believe is cameo but is not slabbed as such.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
wow. i know you scour proof sets wherever/whenever you can.
you should look at all of their 08-W ASE and check reverses while you are picking!?
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
With respect to whether the coin would get a Cameo designation, it might.
The mirrors on both sides are deep, watery black with no blemishes, haze, etc. The obverse frost is thick, smooth and white on all devices. Clearly at a Cameo level. The reverse frost is not as intense/thick as the obverse frost is. All of the reverse devices are fully frosted. It just comes down to whether the reverse frost is thick enough to warrant the designation.
In any event, it is a gorgeous coin. It looks better than the PF66 example of the 1961 DDR half present in CoinFacts.
Is it too early to say that you suck?
The name is LEE!
TD
Hoard the keys.
Based upon my experience with Kevin's evaluations I've seen previously, I would agree that it is likely a cameo, and would hereby offer support for the motion...in other words, SanctionII - "You Suck!"
YOU SUCK AWARD!
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
I'd love to see the coin.
Lance.
You Suck!
Wow man, that's a great find. You inhale vigorously. You inhale multiples of vigorously if it CAMs at the TPG's.
Congrats on the find! Persistance pays off, a little luck throw in ain't bad either.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
The 1961 dime is amazing. It had very light haze on it that I removed with a bath. The appearance of the dime improved without the haze. The fields on both sides of the coins are a deep watery black. The obverse frost is the thickest I have ever seen on a 1961. The frost is so thick it looks like it was artificially applied after minting. The reverse frost is heavy, quite nice, but not close to the level of the obverse frost. The dime upgraded my best 1961 dime.
The third proof set has a nice cameo half that is not a DDR. I have not removed the half from the cello and may just keep that set intact.
The other set had the DDR half. I cut it out of the cello and it now resides in my best 1961 cameo proof set. The DDR half and the dime have improved the quality of the set tremendously. I compared the DDR half to other 1961 halves I own that have frosted devices and mirrored fields. The frost and mirrors on the DDR half looks very similar to these other halves. I will eventually have the DDR submitted for grading.
The DDR half leaves me one half dollar shy of having a 16 coin set of Franklin Cameo proofs [the 14 regular coins plus the 1961 DDR and the 1956 Type 1]. The only cameo that I am missing is the 1956 Type 1. I have found a few Type 1 1956 proof halves, including one with a Cameo reverse. I just need to find a 1956 Type 1 that is a 2 sided Cameo.
It is nice to be able to be admitted into the club of other forumites who officially "Suck"
<< <i>I have never been lucky enough to fing one of those.. BTW..
how much did it cost to get them guys to pose?
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
However, you can look at the R&I Coins website and see a photo of a 1961 DDR NGC PF67 half that is listed for sale. The pictured coin on the R&I Website looks very much like the one I picked up earlier this week. I assume that the R&I photo was taken under optimal lighting conditions that accentuate the contrast between the fields and the devices. When I place my new coin under optimal lighting it looks like the photo of the R&I coin.
Once again...outstanding find Kevin.
You suck man.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
http://www.randicoins.com/store/pc/1961-DDR-FRANKLIN-NGC-PF-67-27p1503.htm
The description sounds similar to Kevin's example - full cameo obverse, moderate cameo reverse.
And here is an example image from one of the 1961 DDR threads on this forum (originally from Heritage Auction archives):
Additional images (including the above) are shown for this variety (Pr DDR-003) at:
http://www.franklinlover.yolasite.com/doubled-dies-1961.php
<< <i>I spent some time last night looking at the three proof sets in more detail.
The 1961 dime is amazing. It had very light haze on it that I removed with a bath. The appearance of the dime improved without the haze. >>
Acetone? Or ?? Just for educational purposes I'm curious what you used.
And congratulations! What a cool and financially rewarding find!
Franklin-Lover's Forum
PS - I'm now very afraid because he was uncertain whether the half would CAM. If he's having doubt about this coin, I'm very frightened just how much of a monster the rest of his set actually is!
PPS - He is also now mostly without excuse for not sharing photos of his coins with us.
PPPS -
The name is LEE!
Anyway, that coin has more contrast than any I have ever seen in person (and I have found a few and seen quite a few). Very rare with contrast and so hard to find in any grade.
Finds like these give us all hope that there are more treasures to find in proof sets.
Great find Sanction!
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Franklin-Lover's Forum
What appear in the photos to be hairlines are something else [at least I think so based on my inspection of the coin under a loupe]. They may be die polishing lines that were not eliminated when the fields of the die were polished. They were transferred to the coin when it was struck. The lines are frosted and appear to be raised.
However, even if they are hairlines, I am quite happy with the pickup.
The dime in the photos is the DCAM [at least the obverse] dime I posted about previously.
Thanks for all of the props folks, I have been blessed this holiday season.
Yeah, you suck..........Happy New Year.........