Matte Proof and Brilliant Proof Buffalo Nickels
BillJones
Posts: 34,798 ✭✭✭✭✭
One of the members asked to me post pictures a Matte Proof and a Brilliant Proof Buffalo nickel. Here they are.
Matte Proof:
Brilliant Proof:
The first 1936 Proof nickels had a satin finish, which was brighter than the Matte Proof finish, but not nearly as bright as the brilliant finish. Collectors complained about satin Proof coins, which prompted the mint to polish the dies far more than it had in years. The resulting coins are almost so bright that one can almost not see the design. Everything on these coins was highly polished. including the devices. As a result very few Proof coins from the 1936 - 42 era show an cameo contrast. I've never seen a Proof Buffalo nickel with even a hint of cameo contrast.
The differences between a brilliant Proof Buffalo and even the brightest of business strike coins are significant. In addiiton to far sharper design details, the Proof coins have a very bright mirror surface. No business strike coin, unless it has been severely polished, can compare to it.
Matte Proof:
Brilliant Proof:
The first 1936 Proof nickels had a satin finish, which was brighter than the Matte Proof finish, but not nearly as bright as the brilliant finish. Collectors complained about satin Proof coins, which prompted the mint to polish the dies far more than it had in years. The resulting coins are almost so bright that one can almost not see the design. Everything on these coins was highly polished. including the devices. As a result very few Proof coins from the 1936 - 42 era show an cameo contrast. I've never seen a Proof Buffalo nickel with even a hint of cameo contrast.
The differences between a brilliant Proof Buffalo and even the brightest of business strike coins are significant. In addiiton to far sharper design details, the Proof coins have a very bright mirror surface. No business strike coin, unless it has been severely polished, can compare to it.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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Comments
Great post Bill, thanks!
looks like I have a 36 p Buff w/ pretty heavy die polishing that gave the coin a PL look to it.
Manuel
SM1 calls me a troublemaker....
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Sunday August 19, 2007 9:17AM
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New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
I had the pleasure of holding one of the PR 67 Cameos. It looked great, but not as cameo as a Jefferson.
Interesting to see -thanks!
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Ken