I started building a collection of PR70 silver eagles a couple of months ago, just getting into coins so I'm no expert. The raised part of the proof coins have a burnished finish (sorry, don't know the official term). The 2010 is just extreme, take a look at the photos I took. All coins under the same light, you can see what I mean. (super size photo here) You can see the finish on the 2010 is nothing like any of the others... looks like it was sand blasted! The coin is supposed to be a PCGS PR70, yet I can also see what I could call as obvious marks - I don't see how it can be a 70. (super size photo here) The coin came from an eBay seller, with over 60,000 feedback. I don't know if it is fake or what is going on. You can also see the strange finish on this photo as well. Anyone else think this is unusual?
The cameo (frost) on the proof coins has a fine textured surface to make it stand out against the mirrored fields. Eventually, the cameo surfaces can begin to fade from continued striking, so it is possible that you may have some that were produced late in the production life of the dies. I get the feeling that you are buying the slab instead of the coin. Yes, there can be very minute imperfections that should prevent the coins from grading 70, but they will sometimes slip past the graders and quality control. That is why it is very important to examine the coin very carefully and not rely on the given grade. I don't know how much you are paying for the 70's, but the prices usually aren't justified, and if you ever decide to sell your collection, you probably won't recover what you paid. If money is not important, then it won't matter. Chris
The different finish that you refer to is something that is now appearing on all proof coins that the mint is producing. It's almost as if the devices were etched. You're either a fan of the new technique or an outspoken critic, from what I've experienced in these forums. Frankly, I like the new process. That mark on your coin (off to the right of Liberty) looks like it could be a piece of lint. The spots (marks) above the bosom could have been overlooked by the graders. Sometimes when you rotate the coin in hand (depending on how the light is striking the coin) such marks can become invisible to the naked eye. And welcome to the forum dear fellow.....
