New 54 proof set. I need some help with the half

Meltdown · July 25, 2008 3:48AM

What do you think of this set?
The dime has some nice color to it and all of the silver coins are pretty frosty.
The half seems to have some horizontal lines over Ben's cheek & bust that I first thought were slider marks from an album,
but this set has been in a 1st generation capitol holder for a long time. Maybe they are die polish
marks? Any opinions welcome, even if it's 'cannot tell from those pictures." I had some issues with the camera yesterday. Thanks.

keets · July 25, 2008 3:56AM

i would say that the marks you see are from the Mint cello that these originally came in.

dorkkarl · July 25, 2008 4:14AM

in my experience, 1953 are the proof coins that most often show tons of hairlines from die polish - followed by 1954. what you got there is a franklin struck off fresh dies, which is why the polish lines are so obvious & also why the coin has some nice cameo

i'd say it's a very nice set

K S

Meltdown · July 25, 2008 5:58AM

Thanks for the positive opinions... I was worried about responses like "Those are big, huge hairlines, how could you miss them when you purchased the set?"

One question about die polishing... wouldn't the lines be more visible in the fields since that is the raised part of the dies? Or is it that this could be from the very first die before additional polishing was done... Does that make sense?
(Edited for a bit more clarity)

BECOKA · July 25, 2008 6:04AM

I like this set very much.

They all look like keepers to me and would jump right into my Dansco album.

keets · July 25, 2008 7:41AM

One question about die polishing... wouldn't the lines be more visible in the fields since that is the raised part of the dies? Or is it that this could be from the very first die before additional polishing was done... Does that make sense?
(Edited for a bit more clarity)

that makes sense, especially since what you're seeing(and what i'm seeing in the pictures) isn't die polish. it's hairlining from the Mint packaging.

Meltdown · July 25, 2008 7:58AM

<< <i>One question about die polishing... wouldn't the lines be more visible in the fields since that is the raised part of the dies? Or is it that this could be from the very first die before additional polishing was done... Does that make sense?
(Edited for a bit more clarity)

that makes sense, especially since what you're seeing(and what i'm seeing in the pictures) isn't die polish. it's hairlining from the Mint packaging. >>

OK, thanks. Will that affect it's grade if I submit the coin to pcgs?

dorkkarl · July 25, 2008 7:58AM

<< <i>One question about die polishing... wouldn't the lines be more visible in the fields since that is the raised part of the dies? Or is it that this could be from the very first die before additional polishing was done >>

the die polish lines would NOT be in the fields, because the fields were polished off after the devices were brushed & treated to produce the cameo effect. if the hairilnes were in the field then cleaning would be a suspect.

what your seeing is die polish as struck off the dies. as die state advances the lines disappear, basically getting worn off the dies, but so does the frost, which is why later struck coins have less cameo, eventually leading to coins w/ no cameo (& no die polish)

K S

Tvac897 · July 25, 2008 8:16AM

The dime looks like its starting to tone.

BECOKA · July 25, 2008 9:43AM

<< <i>

OK, thanks. Will that affect it's grade if I submit the coin to pcgs? >>

Yes

ProofRainbowRoosevelt · July 25, 2008 9:59AM

I love the dime, nice rainbow toning!!

golfer72 · July 25, 2008 10:09AM

nice set. I am working on set of Proof Franklins and that one is nice.

coindudeonebay · July 25, 2008 10:40AM

That appears to be a re-polished die. In the mid 50's when the dies quit making cameos, they would re-polish the dies. I have a 53 that's more impressive, or should I say more scratched than that. If you know how they made the 50's cameos then you'll understand why these marks are so much different. The original dies would be prepared with an acid solution then the dies would be polished. The re-polish would come from something abrasive like a ultra high grit steel wool. Honestly, when you get a nice re-polish, they are more impressive than the regular cameos, except of course for the first few that came off the original dies.

So, I'm certain you have a re-polish on your hands. Let me know if you need more info. I just love cameos, but the half you have is not a cameo. The dime is gorgeous by the way.

Meltdown · July 25, 2008 11:21AM

This thread has about run it's course, but I wanted to say thanks for the information from everyone who posted.
I hope to add my own insights after a time, but for now I appreciate the education.

coindudeonebay · July 25, 2008 12:25PM

Oh and in case anyone was wondering, that is for sure a type 1 reverse!

JRocco · July 25, 2008 12:47PM

<< <i>in my experience, 1953 are the proof coins that most often show tons of hairlines from die polish - followed by 1954. what you got there is a franklin struck off fresh dies, which is why the polish lines are so obvious & also why the coin has some nice cameo

i'd say it's a very nice set

K S >>

Another example of die polish lines on a 54 proof Frankie as DK is explaining.

jmski52 · July 27, 2008 10:52AM

I just felt the need to look at the dime again. I don't think that the thread is done quite yet.

segoja · July 27, 2008 12:49PM

Not a cameo. A touch too light.

If the coin grade PR67, maybe a $100 coin. PR66 maybe a $65-75 coin.

Save your money on this unless the cameo is much better than the pics.

greghansen · July 27, 2008 10:59PM

Just adding my comments to confirm a couple of things said here. It is extremely unlikey that the lines on the raised devices are die polish. As you pointed out, those are much more likely and usually almost exclusively on the fields. In fact one of the easiest way to differentiate die polish lines from hairlines is to see whether the lines appear to run UNDER or OVER raised devices such as lettering, date, etc. Obviously if they run over the top they are hairlines and if they disappear as they encounter a device only to reapper on the other side, they are die polish lines

Coin looks PR66 at best and not a cameo.

New 54 proof set. I need some help with the half

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