I'm a novice and I've just started going through a couple of my piggy banks trying to catalog the coins I've gathered over a few years. I've run into several quarters that are either proofs (have the frosty images against brilliant backgrounds), or have been coated (light tone or gold clad), or are a special strike where the image and backgrounds are more pronounced and more brilliant than general circulation coins. I'm assuming that these coins were once part of sets that someone broke up (probably stole) and put the coins into circulation. My questions are: how do I grade these coins? On some of them, it's quite hard to find any mark or wear while others have obvious dings and wear spots. Are circulated proofs worth more than other circulated coins with similar wear? I assume treated coines, third party toned and clad, are not worth anything special, but are they worth keeping at all or should I put them back into circulation? Hope the questions aren't too simple 'cause I'm hoping to get these coins labeled and put away. Thanks kindly.
From PCGS: http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/ Bookmark it, and grade all of your coins using that method.
You first have to understand the basic rules (standards) of grading. To get started with that, try reading everything you can find here - http://www.cointalk.com/t14179/ No, they are not. In fact as a general rule they are worth less. That's because Proofs are not like regular circulation strike coins, they are special. And they are special because they are made in an entirely different way. So when a Proof gets into circulation and it starts to get contact marks and wear that special aspect is no longer there. You see Proofs are supposed to be the culmination of the mint's art. They represent the finest coin that can be made by using extra care, extra processes, extra everything that the mint can do. So even the tiniest flaw takes away from all of that and reduces the special aspects of the coin. That is entirely up to you. For most collectors the joy of collecting is not in how much the coins are worth, but rather in finding and collecting the coins themselves. You should collect coins because you like them - not because you think you will make a profit on them. Because the vast mjority of the time - you will not. Hope the questions aren't too simple 'cause I'm hoping to get these coins labeled and put away. Thanks kindly.[/QUOTE]
Thanks Thanks very much jcakcoin and GDJMSP. I shall read the links you provided. It's a bummer about the circulated proofs, they look sad with ding marks, sort of like a beautiful girl gone bad. As far as the treated coins go, I'm not to fond of those that are altered after minting and so didn't have any plans for them. On the other hand, I didn't want to throw them away if other people find them desireable. I'll just keep them for now until I find enough to put on the market and see if they have any fans. The time you took to answer my questions is greatly appreciated.
jub, Check the coins that you think are impaired Proofs. If they are dated 1968 or later they should have an 'S' mintmark. If the coins have a 'P' or 'D' (or no) mintmark they are not Proof coins.
Mint stamps Thanks for the tip Hobo, I didn't know about mint marks. Upon checking the coins I believe are proof, they have the following marks: 1980 s - Washington Quarter 2003 s - Missouri Quarter 2005 s - California Quarter I'm not a big fan of the State Quarters, they look to much like amusement park tokens to me, but the Washington Quarter looks great, until you look closely.
