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What years are worth searching for CAM/DCAM coins?
ModCrewman
Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
I just received this question from a board member via PM, and figured why not share my thoughts with the community:
It's tough to narrow down to specific years.
IMHO all 1950-70 sets are worth looking at. The most valuable coins I've made have been out of a 1959, 1961, and 1968 proof sets based upon the PCGS grades they received (PR68 DCAM, PR68 DCAM and PR70 DCAM).
The tougher years for all denominations would be 1950-1953 and 1958-59 and the SMS years of 1965-67. Though in lower grades <65 CAM the SMS coins barely pay the grading fees.
1956-58 are considered tougher years for Jefferson cameos as are the early years of 50-53.
If you're interested in starting to look for these, I'd recommend the Cameo Proof books by Val Webb and Rick Tomaska, although they're available on Amazon, you can usually pick them up cheap on Ebay, I don't think I paid more than $20 for Tomaska's book and less than $10 for Webb's.
Those books give a good idea of relative rarity of the denominations by date. For example, based upon my experience for 1958 the Nickel and Dime are moderately difficult to find in Cameo, with the Quarter and Cent being slightly more difficult and the Half very difficult.
It has proven quite addicting for me to hunt for, find and grade these to build a set of the cameos.
Feel free to pick my brain with any other questions.
I've managed to build my registry set over the past 2.5 years finding some pretty tough coins, and financing a lot of the set by buying and selling cameos, some graded and some raw. Here's a link to my set:
ModCrewman Collection
It's tough to narrow down to specific years.
IMHO all 1950-70 sets are worth looking at. The most valuable coins I've made have been out of a 1959, 1961, and 1968 proof sets based upon the PCGS grades they received (PR68 DCAM, PR68 DCAM and PR70 DCAM).
The tougher years for all denominations would be 1950-1953 and 1958-59 and the SMS years of 1965-67. Though in lower grades <65 CAM the SMS coins barely pay the grading fees.
1956-58 are considered tougher years for Jefferson cameos as are the early years of 50-53.
If you're interested in starting to look for these, I'd recommend the Cameo Proof books by Val Webb and Rick Tomaska, although they're available on Amazon, you can usually pick them up cheap on Ebay, I don't think I paid more than $20 for Tomaska's book and less than $10 for Webb's.
Those books give a good idea of relative rarity of the denominations by date. For example, based upon my experience for 1958 the Nickel and Dime are moderately difficult to find in Cameo, with the Quarter and Cent being slightly more difficult and the Half very difficult.
It has proven quite addicting for me to hunt for, find and grade these to build a set of the cameos.
Feel free to pick my brain with any other questions.
I've managed to build my registry set over the past 2.5 years finding some pretty tough coins, and financing a lot of the set by buying and selling cameos, some graded and some raw. Here's a link to my set:
ModCrewman Collection
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I have collected in this niche area [and other areas] since getting back in to the hobby as an adult in 1998 (has it been that long ago???). Most of my searching has been in California and other western states. It has been a fun area to collect in, does not break the coin budget and at times resulted in some very hard to find and eye appealing coins falling into my hands.
Substantial numbers of proof and SMS coins were minted during 1950-70. Quality is all over the board. Sometimes the coins were fugly from the instant they were struck. Some have become fugly over the years for various reasons. Some have surprisingly survived for the last 43-63 years in pristine condition and have even gotten better with age [i.e. attractive multicolored rim toning that highlights and frames the frosted central devices and deeply mirrored fields]. Some of these coins include notable and valuable varieties (i.e. the 1961 DDR half dollar, especially in Cameo).
The 1965-1967 SMS coins [1964 SMS coins are a separate and additional aspect to the SMS sets] have almost unlimited variation in quality and appearance, so much so that a dedicated researcher and collector could probably devote decades to studying these coins and still not know everything about them.
A collection of the coins making up the 1965-1967 SMS, with each of the 15 coins in the series having multiple examples showing the multiple different appearances/looks of same would be quite impressive. The different examples would include coins that look no different than business strikes, coins with a brilliant prooflike appearance, coins with a brilliant appearance, coins with a satin or matte appearance, coins with CAM or DCAM frost on the devices and satin or matter fields, coins with CAM or DCAM frost on the devices and impaired mirrored fields, coins with CAM or DCAM frost on the devices and flawless mirrored fields, coins like all of those previously described but with toning (single color, two colors or rainbow colors), coins that look to be EDS, coins that look to be LDS, coins that are strongly struck, coins that are weakly struck and coins that are varieties.
A few other forumites have collected and/or do collect these coins. Perhaps they will favor us with their thoughts and opinions on playing in this niche area of the hobby.
Thanks for posting this thread Don.
Lots of photos, explanations, and tips.
I'd add that 1971 is also worth searching for dcams. My avatar is from a raw 1971 set I bought for about $5 - it graded PCGS 69 dcam - a nice return on investment.
And while you are looking at all those proof sets, I'd also look for proof varieties. The varieties are easier to find than the cameos and can also be quite addictive.
“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!
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
I've yet to make a DCAM SMS coin, though have made CAM's of all dates and denominations except for the 1965 cent and 1967 Cent and half. I've had several 1967 CAM's but none worth grading that made the designation. Just recently made the 1965 dime in 66 CAM and upgraded my 66 cent to 66 CAM.
I'd hoped this one would make DCAM, but wasn't so fortunate as they called it a 66 CAM.
Here's my 1966 Lincoln 66 CAM:
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
Some 60's and early 70's proofs sets of mine have some really nice CAMs/DCAMs in them. I get the Cameo Bug for a minute wanting to test them out, then I just get to wondering how much money I'll throw away if I sent these off to the plastic factory for mediocre coins.
Same way with some pocket change. You know the beautiful fresh lustrous coin that catches your eye when you get it back in change and wonder if maybe, just maybe, that this is a top pop circulation coin........then back to reality and you just throw it in your change jar.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.<< <i>Can someone post a pic of a uncirculated "Cameo" coin? Not a proof but a P or D Cameo. I don't believe I ever seen one? Thanks! (anything besides the Morgan dollar) >>
I have never seen a business strike given a cameo designation at PCGS or NGC either. I'd like to see one as well.
Here is a coin that has a bit of cameo to it. Will never get in a cameo holder.
“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!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.the true answer is all years from 1950-1970.