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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,614 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
In roll searching, my son and I find a fair number of nickels that are proofs or possible proofs from the 1960's on. My son says that after some point in time, The SF mint only produced proofs. We have a few other nickels from the 60's that might be proofs, but they are from the Philadelphia mint, so how do we know if they are proofs?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5137 Posts |
1968 to 1970 S mint nickels were also circulation pieces.
As to Proof Philadelphia nickels your guess is as good as mine.
I had found some super nice nickels roll hunting that I would have sworn were proofs until I looked and saw a D mintmark.
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Moderator
 United States
157721 Posts |
I moved this to a more appropriate forum so you will get more replies.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
851 Posts |
As I understand it, S mints are proofs, but P or D may or may not be. Is that the case?
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12311 Posts |
Not always... depends on the year. Do you have a Red Book handy to consult? Your question is a common one and can be quite confusing even with a reference guide. |
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Moderator
United States
157721 Posts |
From the glossary (added emphasis)...
Proof
A coin usually struck from a specially prepared coin die on a specially prepared planchet. Proofs are usually given more than one blow from the dies and are usually struck with presses operating at slower speeds and higher striking pressure. Because of this extra care, Proofs usually exhibit much sharper detail than regular, or business, strikes. PCGS recognizes Proofs (PR) as those struck in 1817 and later. Those coins struck prior to 1817 are recognized as Specimen strikes (SP).
Generally, look for squared rims, reflective fields, and a very sharp strike.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
I looked through three coin books that we own and was not able to establish any certainty as to which coins are proofs and which are just in great condition. Is there any online source that can be used to determine this?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Look at a known proof nickel pay special attention to the fields where they meet the rim and then look at a known circulation strike,on the proof coin the field and rim meet at pretty much a 90 degree angle very straight sides down the inside of the rim to the field, on the circulation coin the field meets the inside rim with a slightly coved or rounded appearance.
This is true of most proof coins in all denoms when compared to a circulation strike coin.
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Valued Member
United States
207 Posts |
Good question. I used to think it was just a matter of quality.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
851 Posts |
Metalman, Do you have a source that lists which proofs were made per year in Jefferson nickels? |
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Moderator
Australia
16181 Posts |
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,614 |
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Posted 04/04/2013 10:57 am
