Doesn't this scratch those delicate proofs? I know some of these aren't worth a lot, but it seems like a coin travesty to me. Your thoughts? From the bay: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=proof+roll&_sacat=253&_sop=1&_dmpt=Coins_US_Individual&_dmd=2&_odkw=&_osacat=253&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
You will often find dealers who submit proof sets in bulk, and they usually specify PF69 as a minimum acceptable grade. The rest of the coins are returned uncertified, and this is one of the few ways that they can dispose of them. In 2007, I purchased 9 tubes of 2004-2006 proof nickels because I decided to put together 13-coin sets of the Westward Journey nickels. Each set contains one each of the uncirculated business strikes: 2004 P&D Peace Medal & Keelboat, 2005 P&D Bison & Ocean in View and 2006 P&D Return to Monticello. The three extra slots were intended for the three different obverse views of Jefferson: right-facing profile (2004), partial forward-facing (2005) and full forward-facing (2006). However, I decided that the sets would look much nicer if I used the proof coins for the three Jefferson obverses. This is just one example of ways that the ungraded proof coins can be used. Sometimes, a person might want to put together birthday sets to distribute to family members and maybe sell the extras. There are all kinds of projects that can be devised. Chris
To echo what Chris is saying, if you run across a roll of Proof coins you can rest assured the coins in that roll are of low quality, or they would never have been put in the roll to begin with. That's why those who put them in a roll don't care about any additional hairlines or marks the coins may acquire from being put in a roll. To them they are just junk coins anyway.
I would not recommend buying proof rolls. But by the same token I wouldn't suggest you necessarily stay away from them. 99% or more of the coins from proof sets can be transferred to rolls with no damage. While it's true that almost all the proof rolls assembled have a few superb coins removed from them it's also true that most businesses that assemble these rolls remove even larger numbers of substandard coins. In other words most of the proof rolls on the market will contain nicer coins on average than the equivalent number of proof sets. You won't get one or two gems but you won't get four or five junk ones either. The junk coins are usually put into circulation and are the source of the vast majority of proofs found in circulation. I would advise collectors to avoid these for myriad reasons but the primary reason is that it is usually cheaper to just buy the proof sets. With the proofs sets you will usually find the gems intact. You also might find some varieties. The proof sets are easily taken apart (except some '68) if you want to. Just remember not to let the coins bounce around in the roll. Either the roll should be secure so it never moves or better there should be some cotton or something filling the void between the lid and the top coin. (Never put a nice coin on top).
I've bought two lots of proof rolls in my time. The Lincoln cents were spotty and awful, and I regret buying them. But the early-60s Jefferson nickels were actually in fantastic condition, and many had developed very attractive toning in the rolls. I consider those rolls to have been a steal on my part. So in my very limited experience, it's a mixed bag.
As the others said, most coins in these proof rolls are substandard. However, my local dealer does make rolls by blindly opening tons of proof sets and simply rolling them up. He doesn't really care what grade each one is because he claims he can get more for them in rolls. If you get one of those rolls, there very well could be some higher grade coins in it.
But wouldn't the high-grade-ness have been destroyed by the rolling and "unrolling" to look at it? In the pictures when I see them all spread out it seems like any high grade coin would now have some kind of rub on its delicate proof surface. Cameron
Proofs are not the Holy Grail. I was brought up to think that they were "perfect" (Dad). They're not. It's not sacrilegious to break 'em out and roll 'em up. Proof is a method of manufacture, not a condition..........
They're a lot tougher than you might think. I once found a PR-65 Lincoln in Brinks roll (from a box)....I was amazed, it looked real good still.
