I found it in the drawer at work today. I bought it because I save every SBA I find, and because it was a relatively scarce 1999 it caught my eye right away. Then I noticed the S mintmark and the gears in my head started spinning. Could it be? It has a dull mirrored field and frosty proof-like devices. It has lived a hard life as the coin is dull and has some gunk on it. My 40 year old eyes can't tell if it has the Type I or Type II S mintmark, and I doubt my low quality pictures will zoom in that far. If this is indeed a proof, then this is my very first proof found in the wild.
It is hard to see in the pictures but there is quite a contrast between the field and the devices, and the field looks smooth and shiny (and grungy) while the devices are delicate and have a matte finish. The more I look at it the more convinced I am that it is a proof that somehow escaped into circulation. I caught it.
Definitely a proof (look at the sharpness of the 11 sided edges, and the slightly raised wire rim). Could be a type II, I seem to remember the S on those appears slightly rotated right...?
