old proof pennys

heres 4 1910 pennys at top and others are pennys in the teens, but some of my 1909 threw 1919 look like the top four, are these old proof coins. i cleaned a penny to see if it would look like the top four but after cleaning a penny it had a dall look to it so i know my real shinny pennys have not been cleaned.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The four on top have been polished. They are not proofs.

 

:thumb:

 

ok thanks

 

If they were Proof Cents they are ruined now. They look to be circulated, cleaned Business Strikes to me.

 

Indeed the wear is the indicator. Theres just no way with wear like that, that they would have maintained any UNC or PR colour.

 

yeah sorry, polished as all get out

 

The proof cents from 1909 to 1916 were called Matte Proofs. They had a different look than the mirror finish we see today on proofs. The 1910s posted look to be cleaned (polished). Notice the detail in these matte proofs.

 

The color of the polished coins makes it almost certain that they were cleaned with "BRASSO" a common destroyer of cents

Thanks,
Bill

 

Yes these coins were certainly polished indeed.
JC

 

The 1913 and 1915 are exception cents,virturally no wear. I agree the four top row cents look polished and worn down by it i.e. vests, chin hair, cheek, etc. But now I started looking at my 1970 to 1959's and I can't tell the difference between polished and unpolished which I hope they all are. their color is right and but wear and tear is tough to tell the difference. Even the cents I'm sure of show smoothness instead of sharpness and they're new. How do I tell the difference? What are the ket things?

 

Here's what I'm having difficuty /doubts with now.

 

I hope those coins have no wear. They are Matte Proof Lincoln Cents.

What you are having trouble with is telling the difference between wear and a weak strike. Sometimes it is very difficult to tell the difference between the two but one thing is certain - if the coin has luster in that area it is a weak strike. Luster gets worn away long before the metal wears down.

What does 'ket' mean?

 

Sorry, I mean, what are the key things to look for to judge whether a cent might be polished? What about the ones I posted? They all aren't weak hits. Yet some of them seem to be too smoothe and new in color to be 40-50 yrs old. Plus they're all circulated cents. I consider myself very lucky to have found them and the other cents in my '98 to 59' collections.
Opinions please, THANKS!