Opinion: Do you prefer MS or PR?

When it comes to silver and gold coins, which do you prefer; deep cameo proofs or business strikes? Why?

(Please chime in even if you don't collect XYZ; even if you wouldn't spend that much on XYZ; even if your favorite/niche series only has ___ strikes; etc.)

I myself used to prefer DCAM proofs, but over the past ~2 years, have been more drawn to the cartwheel luster of business strikes. I find that DCAM coins tend to seem far too uniform, whereas business strikes have a bit more uniqueness to them.

What about you? Does metal composition impact your preference?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

DCAM high grade proofs blow me away. I personally like 69 and 70 proofs, with the incredible contrast, and deep reflectivity.

 

Gotta go with MD on this.

69 or 70 coins are nice, but PF69 or PF70 DCAMs look spectacular, especially modern and recent coins as the minting technology has improved leaps and bounds in recent decades, let alone from pre-1960.

 

Business strikes,I like older coins 20th century mostly and below.Proofs are to expensive for me around that age,indian heads,buffalo's e.t c. And I don't own any gold besides one quarter eagle.

 

Business strikes, much harder to find in high grades. I do like older proofs a lot more than newer ones just because the new ones are almost to good where any little thing jumps out across the room.

Nothing against either, I just appreciate the best older business more and know the effort the top modern business can take to find.

 

IMO, I think proofs can be too sterile, I feel they have no character. I'll take business strikes over proofs, but proofs have their own appeal.

 

I love the contrast between the frosted devices and shimmering fields of silver proof coins. Not too impressed with the gold proofs. Still prefer 19th century type coins over moderns though.

 

I enjoy seeing most any coin but got away from buying anything modern.
With classic coins I enjoy both business strikes and proofs. I don't like the prices I have to pay for some of the proofs I still need for my type set. Because of this I seem to buy more business strike coins.

 

Business strikes. I have absolutely no interest in coins which were made simply for collectors rather than actually serving the purpose for which the mint was created.

Others may like the look and strike which admittedly does show the designer's idea in its best light--just not my cup of coffee.

 

I had to make some decisions about what to collect.
It didn't take me long to figure out that if I wanted everything I'd soon end up with no money and an uncoordinated pile of coins.
So one of my decisions was to NOT collect proofs.
The only exception was my birth year set; it's both proofs and MS business strikes.

 

It doesn't matter, to me. the coin speaks for itself. It also does not have to be exemplary proof or business strikes, to be of interest to me.

 

MS in any metal. Too often we confuse beauty with perfection; resort to Photoshop, airbrushing, polishing and the like and tweak natural beauty into just another shiny object.

 

I voted business strike for silver and proof for gold. I usually purchase older silver coins which more often than not are business strike or lower. I prefer gold coins or bullion to be sealed and authenticated. Great post, thank you.

 

Many proofs are beautiful, but they really do nothing for me. I think most of them are too costly. I'll take MS any day.

 

No real preference...whichever one will yield the best value for a/that particular coin...it varies by all sorts of criteria, coin to coin...but if had to pick one, more to business than proof.

 

Reverse proofs especially.

 

Plot twist!

I was waiting for somebody to inevitably mention about SP and/or BM strikes, but kind of forgot about reverse proofs. Those are awesome indeed! Imagine seeing some of the 18th/19th century stuff struck in reverse proof... I think any half cent or large cent would look absolutely incredible in reverse proof *drool*

 

DCAM Franklins and DCAM Type 1 1964 Kennedys.

 

I had actually thought that as reverse proofs are a different story and I think get the best of both worlds. You get the contrast and the mirror but it’s much smaller and not as susceptible to issues with modern proofs.