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Canadian PL collectors - I need help!

golddustingolddustin Posts: 838 ✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
I have been trying to discern just what characteristics make a 1953 LD SS half dollar a proof like example, and not a MS or SP coin. After about a half dozen submissions, and numerous emails with the powers that be regarding Canadian coinage at pcgs, I am no closer to finding the answer.
Can anybody out there describe just what the pcgs graders look for when designating the coin type for this particular year/denomination? The expert that pcgs goes to when they need questions answered about Canadian coinage is quick to expound on how much more he knows than anybody else, but comes up short in describing exactly what makes one of these coins prooflike rather than MS.

Feel free to respond or PM me with any help that can be provided.......Paul - where are you????

Thanks,
Chuck
Don't you know that it's worth
every treasure on Earth
to be young at heart?
And as rich as you are,
it's much better by far,
to be young at heart!

Comments

  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    I'm afraid I can't answer what PCGS graders look for, but you are swimming in murky waters.

    There were so few true specimens struck in 1953 you won't be likely to run across any that aren't offered as such. As far as distinguishing between good business strikes and PLs, you'll find as many different opinions as you find dealers. The Mint used chrome-plated dies that gave a brilliant finish to both PLs and circulation strikes, so finding a coin with mirrored fields and devices does not mean you've found a PL. As you probably know, Canadian "prooflike" refers to a manufacturing process and not to mirrored coin surfaces. A business strike from newer dies struck on a decent planchet can look like a PL, and a PL with handling marks can look like a business strike.

    If anyone can come up with a fool-proof method for distinguishing between the two, I'd certainly like to know!
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • golddustingolddustin Posts: 838 ✭✭
    Yes, that seems to be the answer that I am getting from various sources. The pcgs expert whom I've communicated with has stated just the same as you about the different striking and handling methods used for PL coins, and HE can tell them apart easily......but he can't describe what it is that tells him what makes them proof-like. There must be something that pcgs graders 'hang their hat on' when giving a 1953 coin a PL designation, but finding out what that is seems to be impossible, like a trade secret or something.
    Don't you know that it's worth
    every treasure on Earth
    to be young at heart?
    And as rich as you are,
    it's much better by far,
    to be young at heart!
  • WorldTypeSetWorldTypeSet Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭
    A business strike from newer dies struck on a decent planchet can look like a PL, and a PL with handling marks can look like a business strike.

    I can only speak for Canadian nickels ... but this is not true for PLs before 1963. Some 1964 and 1965 PLs are often indistinguishable from the business strikes. Things got better in 1966 and after, though some years are better than others.

    And, it's hard to describe the differences, but if you look at a few side by side it becomes obvious. The "flatness" of the letters / numbers on the PLs is a good indicator.
    Paul

    My World Coin Type Set
  • 1960NYGiants1960NYGiants Posts: 3,532 ✭✭✭✭
    To my eye at 10x PL's have a glassy surface and MS' have a grainy surface.
    Gene

    Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
    Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors

    Collector of:
    Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
    Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
    My Ebay
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