Hey Folks, A while back I bought some of the 'reverse' proofs. I don't know much about them, or even if that's what they are actually called. I do think the reverse cameos are beautiful though. Which is why I bought them. I have two for each denomination from different years, including toonies, except for the halves. So I was hoping a Canadian collector could shed some light on the subject. I originally thought they were called "specimen" sets. However, after doing some looking around the web and ebay, it appears that "specimen" sets are actually what I would call "proof" sets. Is that accurate? Are all proof sets actually specimen sets? If so, what are these called? Thank you for any information.
I've always thought specimen coins were general MS coinage that exhibited "proof like" surfaces. Because the RCM never minted true "proof" coins in addition to their MS pieces, they don't polish the dies regularly like the US mints do to their proof dies. This was the case in the 40's-60's, they struck all their silver in this manner. This makes those earlier specimen proof coins worth a ton a money if graded as such and only the first xxx amount had that deep mirrored finish. I know ICCS grades with the specimen tag on there if they come across one. I'm not 100% sure what the RCM calls the coins you have, I believe they are specimens. After a certain year, sometime in the 90's, they now call their proofs as specimens and produce them as a higher tiered collectibles. Make sense Greg?
Thanks kookoox. I do understand what you are saying. That's interesting, I never knew they actually didn't strike proofs in those earlier years. Ok, now I see. These modern ones (the reverse cameo) are called Specimen, and they did make both specimen and proof sets. Proof: Specimen
From Coins of Canada 2011 by J.A. Haxby and R.C. Willey (page 238): "From the early days of the 19th century, mints around the world have struck small quantities of coins in superior quality for presentation to visiting dignitaries, etc. In some years, these 'specimen' sets were made available to the general public to add to their collections. These coins are [minted] from immaculately treated dies and planchets and are struck on slow-moving presses under higher than normal pressure. The coins so produced all have unusually sharp details and sharp edges. Although the device is usually frosted, the fields can be either frosted or mirror-like." Prior to 1981, Canada's circulation coinage was only available in specimen grade sets. The Royal Canadian Mint is known for its extremely high quality coinage. Our Canadian friends and collectors are a fussy group and the Royal Canadian Mint always rises to the occasion. Many Canadian coin collectors often call all coins issued since the 1960's as "proof," but are not so, until the issuance of the first true proof set in 1981, the double dollar set. You can purchase many 1970s and 1980s Canadian double dollar sets at very reasonable prices and draw an immense appreciation of the magnificent quality that comes from Ottawa, Hull and Winnipeg's presses.
the Royal Canadian Mint's website provides a useful glossary for the terms they use. Taken from said glossary: http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/glossary-2500002
