Frosted Proof Franklin Half?

The image below is a stock Google image I copied to illustrate my question..... Back in the 1990's part of my collection was stolen. One of my losses was a Franklin half book. In that Franklin book I had three halves that I always believed were what I called "frosted proofs". Where the relief was mirror-like and the devices appeared to be frosted. From time to time I search Google for Franklin half frosted proofs and come up empty handed. Did the mint ever produce any frosted proof Franklins?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Are you maybe thinking of a DCAM?

 

Perhaps.... Is deep cameo different from frosted proof?

 

@Randy Abercrombie Froted?

 

yes, there are deep cameo Franklin Halves and they command a significant premium.

 

I believe this is Froto.

This is a DCAM proof.
http://m.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/96699

 

Frosted proof can be said to be a synonym. There are different levels of frost that can correspond with non-cameo, cameo, and deep cameo.

And there are some listed on eBay now:
https://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=dcam&_sacat=11973

 

Oh blahhh.... I did do that, didn't I??? I get the "duhhh" award for the day.

 

That is rather what I thought. Makes me want to inflict pain on the darned thief that took my book.

 

Yes sir... That would be the ones.... Now I am sick.... Darnit.

 

Shame about that Randy but the thief can't escape God. Coins can be replaced but you can't. My ex wife stole my collection but I've rebuilt it. I haven't replaced everything but I branched out. So can you.

 

You are so correct. I did rebuild my Franklin collection with all uncirculated pieces and it's a nice set. Sure do miss those beautiful proofs I once had though. Thanks for that.

 

I love the Franklins. I have 1 low grade and I need 6 more high grades to complete that set. Keep looking and you'll find some great looking proofs. It takes time and patience.

 

So I think what I am learning here..... What I formerly referred to as a "frosted proof" is correctly called a "deep cameo proof". Is that correct?

 

They are called "cameo proofs". The grade for a cameo or deep cameo proof will be listed as "PR-64 CAM" or "PR-64 DCAM".

 

Randy,
The Franklin Half is my favorite series. I focus more on circulation strikes than proofs, however I have a few nice proofs, too.
Keep in mind that the frosted or deep cameo Franklins are frosted because they were some of the first coins to be pressed from each new die, 50+ years ago. Whereas today’s modern frosted or deep cameos are made and specified as deep cameo.
As the Franklin proof dies wore down with each pressing, the frostiness diminished and eventually disappeared. The higher relief areas of proofs that came from the more worn dies exhibit a smooth finish more like the mirrored fields.
You will not (or at least shouldn’t) find any modern proofs that were designed as deep cameo to not be so. In other words, today’s modern proof dies are much more durable and are replaced once the deep cameo features begin to diminish.
So, a modern deep cameo is generally considered commonplace, whereas a pre-1964 90% Silver deep cameo proof (10c, 25c or 50c) will generally command a higher premium than an otherwise equivalent cameo or non-cameo example.

 

This completes the puzzle in my mind. Thank you for that.

 

You’re welcome!
Glad to share.

 

Yeah, from Lord of the Rings

 

Like this random example from the 'net right?