Have this nickel in my collection that I thought looked a little too nice for a PA minted coin. What do I have here? There is a medium amount difference between the edge and the fields (almost sharp). The obverse looks almost too shiny (luster) and the reverse looks like it may have been cleaned. You can see with what looks like scratches or something going on here. Here is the coin. Comments welcome.
Hey Guys! I tried. I really did. this is the best i could get with my Moto G Phone. I have a Microscope, but the Pic is too grainy. Here you go. I just wish that they had a walkway for people like me with a cane.
Hmm. I thought it was definitely a proof until I remembered they didn't make proof sets in 1965. It must be a specimen strike from an Special Mint Set (SMS) that they made that year.
Just now seeing that it's a 1963. This is when Philadelphia was making the proof coins (San Francisco didn't start until 1968). Definitely a proof.
Another thing that throws people is today we expect proof coins to be cameo. That wasn't common until 1973. Proofs before that were brilliant proofs and a cameo proof was very unusual and highly prized. Cameos in the 60's were scarce and in the 50's were rare. Today we're spoiled because almost any proof from the mint is heavily frosted.
