Proof collectors (not just sets); anyone here do this these days or why not?

I've re entered the hobby after decades ++ long hiatus and picked up where me and Dad RIP left off...collecting (accumulating) Proofs. As a kid I collected worn down circulation pieces (and still have the albums and had FUN) but as an adult it (with Dad) was always proofs were the ultimate collector objective. I'm finding it the same at this point in my life. I'm having FUN now.

Pros and cons and whatever floats your boat...there is NO wrong perspective.

 

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I wish I could afford to collect old proofs. They are simply stunning.

 

My Dad always touted the line that proof coins were 'perfect coins'. Then I found out he wasn't so perfect.....both with his assessment on coins and life in general. Funny how the child is father to the man as I remain imperfect also........

 

I don't collect modern proofs but do collect pre 38 proofs. Mosttly nickels but will eventually build complete sets.

Gbroke, older proofs price/mintage are more affordable than business strikes in high grades for the most part,though Morgans are one of the few exceptions

 

Yup, I love proof sets. I like to see "the best" that a mint can do with a particular design. I also appreciate what Green said It's neat to find a beautiful nickel and penny amongst an otherwise less appealing set...and have the silver value "pay for" them.

 

2 proof sets, and 1 uncirculated Mint set each year from the Mint.

 

Seated proofs

I have been a collector of Seated proofs for some time now and I think they are great! I think they have great potential for their value to increase as most mintages were very small. I was thinking of starting to collect proof Morgans next. I also collect Seated coins graded as proof like (PL) as these are quite rare. My advice to you is to buy only PCGS or NGC slabbed proofs to get the most for your money. JIm

 

Whatever floats your boat, and having fun, are the two keys to your post OP. Its a hobby, so anytime you are not having fun its time to stop. Personally, I "stop" by start collecting another series of coins. I rotate through collections from time to time, I find its a good way to keep interest fresh. I was on a Byzantine kick a few years ago, right now on Central Asia, but am getting more and more drawn to early 4th century Roman. I was in US coins for too long, maybe in another decade or two I will be interested in them again.

Chris

 

i just started putting together a proof franklin set last month. i have 5 flatpacks, 1 of the plastic cased sets, and 2 slabbed so far. i love the old proofs.

 

What do y'all think about proof sets people have cut out of the mint plastic wrap and screwed into plastic cases? Are those at all good for preservation? Would it be better to pull them out?

 

I think they do a good job personally. I have some coins in those kinds of cases, and in over 20 years I have owned them never seen any damage or toning inside them. Sometimes I am lazy when I buy coins, and if they are in decent holders just leave them alone. I know a lot of people like to have their coins all in identical packaging, so that would be your call.

 

Post some photos please

I don't have many but here are a couple:

 

I'm working on an 1888 proof set. So far, I've gotten a 1¢ (PR50), 3¢ (PR55), 5¢ (PR63), 50¢ (PR60) and an $1 (MS63 PL). Not looking to get a registry set, but a proof set that is 100 years older than my youngest child.

 

I too like the look of the proof coins. I've gotten into the proof sets, but before that I started working on my Second Ike set. I already had a completed set from circulation, and I've been working on my Uncirculated Dansco with Proofs for a while now and I've almost got it all complete. While all proofs may not be perfect coins, they certainly are stunning. I would love to go back and upgrade my current uncirculated Kennedy Dansco to the Uncirculated with Proofs Album, but that one is going to half to wait for a while.

 

I have been collecting proof sets since 1967. I still get 2 silver and 2 clad sets from the US mint every year (along with 2 uncirculated sets) I also get several of the commemoratives in silver proof. Started working to complete a set of Prestige Proof sets as I like the extra coins that come with them. I have thought about putting together sets of proofs from years that the Mint didn't assemble them into sets. Haven't started that one yet but that may be next.
I remember the first proof set I saw with a mirror finish when I was a kid. I thought it was fake! A coin couldn't really shine that much. Needless to say, I don't think they are fake anymore!

 

The old proof coins are nice to collect. They are expensive though and unless I stumble upon one for a decent price I don't see myself collecting them. Modern proofs on the other hand are nice only if the design is nice.

 

Among modern proofs, I find the Franklin Half Dollar series interesting because you can find proofs of the same date with an overall mirror finish and other proofs with a cameo finish. Apparently, training and production standards were not uniformly followed at the mint in the 1950's, so while some dies were polished only the background areas of the die giving the proof coin a "frosty" cameo, other operators polished the entire die prior to press work, which gives the mirror finish to both the background and design elements. To be fair to any former Mint employees, there was great demand for the more time-consuming proofs at the time and the Mint was probably understaffed to handle it.

As regards the cameo proof strikes, since the Franklin is such a large coin it is also easier to distinguish on observation a deep cameo design (graded DCAM Proof) that would have resulted from an early strike of a proof die before the edges of the design became slightly worn and produced a regular cameo appearance (graded CAM Proof) or less. For many modern proofs, the CAM distinction is irrelevant because all the proofs have a cameo appearance, but it does have more significance with the Franklin proofs.

 

Thanks for the great info. I've seen similar example of '50s Washington quarter: in size of device, presentation of cameo.

 

heres my cam franklin.