1990 No S Proof Lincoln Cent

Hey everyone, I was just wanting to know how do you tell the difference between a 1990 no s proof and a clean and pretty business strike? If anyone could help me out I would greatly appreciate it...
I know this coin is dirty and probably not the coin I'm wanting but I was curious if anyone could answer my question. thanks

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You generally don't find proof coins in your pocket . They only come in proof sets.
Fields would be like mirrors.
Your coin is not a proof.
Welcome to C.T. by the way

 

You can occasionally find proofs in circulation, but usually you can pretty much tell by the fields. They were issued in regular and prestige sets and are from business die processed as a proof die. I don't know if the reverse was a regular business die or not, or if only the wrong obverse die got processed wrong. But only maybe 200 estimated known and more likely to be found in a set and not in circulation.

 

As mentioned, your coin is a
normal circulation strike, not
a proof.

 

If you don't know whether a fairly modern proof is or isn't one, it isn't. Period.

 

From your photo, I can see that the edge of the coin has slight rounding, this is to allow coins to go into counters and even some antique gum machines that are still found occasionally. Proof coins were not designed for circulation or use as such, so they have right angles on the edges, very flat, sharp junction. I always look at the edges first as many circulation coins are very shiney and nice looking, but they will have rounded edges. Jim

 

Yours is too bumpy. It has to look like this:

https://www.pcgs.com/top100/coin9.aspx.

 

Go to literally ANY place that sells coins and ask to see a proof set. If you cannot IMMEDIATELY, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, tell the difference between a proof and a circulation strike, I'll buy you dinner. Your choice where. (This applies to modern proofs as struck by our U.S. Mint.) The difference is as obvious as an arterially bleeding wound. You only need to see one once to understand what it is.

 

And I'll be a monkey's uncle and since Kurt will buy you dinner don't come looking for me for that.

 

I came across this proof cent in circulation, I keep it around, for reference.

 

I took a picture of the wrong coin yesterday... I knew it looked different in the picture.... but this is the one.

 

The same applies.