Would you rather have a satin proof, a matte proof or a mirror proof?

Please explain your preference.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

personal preference.Just like the look.

 

Guess it depends on the coin, I love me some matte wheat cents, but I liked the satin mint sets they had a few years back as well.

 

Please sign me up for your giveaway. I'll take the matte proof Lincoln please.

 

Yes.

 

My preference has always been mirror proof. That does not mean I discriminate. I am an equal opportunity proof collector. Nonetheless, three countries I collect, Great Britain, Australia and Canada all experiment much more with reverse proofs, mirror proofs and so on, more than in the USA and it interesting how the same or different designs look with a variety of proof finishes.

 

Satins, because some look like matte proofs and, even though they are low mintage, you could pick up quantities of them for little over face value – but, that’s changing, they’re beginning to dry up. Never did care for the mirrored proofs, as I like cartwheel luster – the mirrors just look too much like medals or something not a coin and they are tough to keep pristine.

 

I've always been a fan of mirrored proofs. Those reflective fields satisfy the child like attraction to shinny things within me......

 

Mirror, because they are the most unlike circulation coins.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using Tapatalk HD

 

that's my veiw also. being older that's just how proofs were supposed to look when i was growing up.

 

I selected "Who Cares?" but I don't mean it in a bad way. I like 'em all and couldn't just pick one.

 

I went with Mirror as well. I feel that they are as close to a perfect coin (i know there is no such thing) as possible. They provide the best viewing of a coin in my opinion.

 

The whole concept of proof coins being so different from circulating coins is just plain wrong in my view. A "proof" is an example to prove the quality of the product, and should not be a product on its own. In the case of coins, it should be to prove that the dies, machinery, etc are able to produce an acceptable product for circulation. This is similar to what is done for photographs, ie you look at the proof page and decide which photo you want printed. Now, we can't go that far with coins, but we could do a bit better than we do now:

No polished planchets
No double-striking
Any special process during die or planchet preparation also gets applied to circulation strikes
Improved handling after striking to ensure essentially PF70 quality on every coin

In this way, the coins are truly proofs of the circulating coinage. Personally I'd like to see every die be "proofed" and these proof coins shipped to the public. No special dies for proofs, no special planchets, no special process except handling. I would see no issue devoting a particular press to proofs, as long as it was substantially identical to a production press. The workers would "proof" every die used in the production presses on that machine. Alternately, the first coins struck after a die pair is replaced on the production machines could be used to proof the dies.

Is this practical to do? No. Would it be popular with the public? No. But I can no longer consider the "proof" monstrosities that the mint produces for "collectors" as anything other than tokens, or possibly bullion.

 

I like the mirror finish because they are the most unlike the others.

 

A picture is worth 1000 words. I am assuming you are talking about the Lincoln Cent Series, although I think those 3 finishes might have also been produced in the Buffalo Nickel series. Here is my best Matte, Satin, and Mirror proof Lincoln Cent.

Matte Proofs have very low mintages and are expensive. They were produced only from 1909-1916. A PCGS slabbed version could cost you anywhere from around $700 to 5 digits plus. Most of these dates have field population in the hundreds. Although those with beautiful toning colors probably can be counted in the 1 or sometimes 2 digits.

Matte Proof


Satin Proofs were only minted in 1936, and there are actually fewer PCGS slabbed versions of this finish than all the slabbed Mattes. You can buy nice PCGS slabbed versions of this coin for between $400 and $2500, when and where you can find them for sale. I think the total field population of PCGS slabbed Satin proofs is less than 400 -- so there are not many to pick from.

Satin Proof



Mirror Proofs were produced from 1936-1942 and 1950+. These are easy to find and cheap to buy. Although finding one with nice color like this will cost from anywhere from $25 to hundreds of dollars.

Mirror Proof


If someone was giving away these 3 and I had to pick one, I would pick the Matte Proof because it would have the most value (probably). In terms of just jaw dropping beauty, I think the Matte wins by a landslide due to the extreme detail, wide rims and sometimes stunning look. By the way the beautiful colors on some Matte Proofs was due (mostly) to the sulfur laden tissue paper these coins were wrapped in when they were shipped from the U.S.Mint to collectors.

The wear in the dies was so apparent by 1936 and later, that it's almost sad to look at. Many collectors look at Matte Proof Lincolns and say "This is what the Lincoln Cent was supposed to look like". Note the stunning detail of Lincoln's hair and beard on the 1914 Matte Proof.

 

Amazing as always.