HOW DO I KNOW IF MY 1990 NO S PENNY IS REAL???

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by hungryahmad, Nov 12, 2014.

  1. Ethan

    Ethan Collector of Kennedy's

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  3. hungryahmad

    hungryahmad New Member

    What do I have and what are proofs. Sorry I'm new to this, I just don't understand what the difference between my penny and the 4000 penny. Thank you
     
  4. hungryahmad

    hungryahmad New Member

    Tell me the difference I'm new to this, thank you
     
  5. Vegas Vic

    Vegas Vic Undermedicated psychiatric patient

    The short explanation is they are made differently. Google it for details. Look at the picture I posted then look at your coins.
     
  6. hungryahmad

    hungryahmad New Member

    You're the man
     
  7. Ethan

    Ethan Collector of Kennedy's


    Quickly? Proofs are struck twice with higher pressure...the others are not.
    Mirror = Proof, otherwise maybe not......

    This is not always etc but good rule of thumb.
     
  8. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    The word "proof" designates a method of manufacture. The word "uncirculated" or "business strike" defines the condition of a coin.

    Chris
     
  9. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Like Chris said, proof is a different type of manufacturing. It started as a "proof", a special strike to "prove" the dies were correct, like an artist's proof. Over the years it became a special gift for dignitaries, and later coin collectors. A proof is created with special preparation of the coin metal, then specially prepared dies are used and struck with much higher pressure, usually multiple times. This creates a very special coin. Proofs are ONLY sold at a premium from the mint, never into circulation.

    What happened in 1990 was a proof cent die was erroneously not punched with an S denoting San Francisco. They are very rare. They only were available in proof sets. What makes it confusing to you is Philadelphia circulation cents never have had a mintmark on them, so to you it appears your cents are the missing S cents, but the only missing S cents which are valuable are the proof cents.

    Make sense? Bottom line, if the coin is not frosted like the pic above, and was not found inside a US mint proof set, its not the rare coin sir.
     
    Del Ihle likes this.
  10. 712

    712 Constatutionalist, U.S.N. Viet Nam vet 66'

    What if a 1990 no s proof had been put into circulation say in 1992 by someone unknowing of the error. What would that coin look like today??
     
  11. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    It might be an impaired proof, but most likely would still look very much different than a business strike. It would only be difficult to distinguish once it got worn down to VF or so.

    If you are saying its POSSIBLE for a very rare mint error to get released into circulation, and get worn down to the point where its hard to tell its not a business strike, yes its POSSIBLE. You would have better odds of hitting the Powerball 4 times in a row, but its POSSIBLE. I guess I just play the odds, and figure things that are maybe 1 in 50 billion or 1 in a trillion odds are simply not going to happen to me.
     
    712 likes this.
  12. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I can certainly remember when *I* didn't understand the difference between proof and uncirculated. Well, I understood the difference in manufacturing, but I still sort of thought of "proof" as "really, really uncirculated". It didn't help that most proofs in those days were not "frosted" or "cameo" (where the blank areas look like mirrors but the designs look white), and that the Red Book tables of coin prices had their "proof" column to the right of the "uncirculated" column.

    To the original poster, it takes practice, but only a little, to learn to tell the difference between an uncirculated modern proof coin and an uncirculated "business strike" coin. With more practice, you can even tell the difference between an old circulated proof and a circulated business strike -- but the more worn the coin is, the harder it is, and the more practice you'll need.

    So I guess my point is, "practice"! Keep looking at coins, and paying attention to the differences you see, and -- yes -- asking questions here. We'll have you hooked in no time. :)
     
    712 likes this.
  13. Del Ihle

    Del Ihle Member


    We would call that one "BU". "BU" meaning Beat Up! I'm joking of course. Nice to see some constructive answers for OP's question.

    And yes, "BU" really means Brilliant Uncirculated, and is usually the condition of a freshly minted coin.
     
  14. 712

    712 Constatutionalist, U.S.N. Viet Nam vet 66'

    LOL, never looked at that abbreviation in that way, it sure identifies with me though
     
    Del Ihle likes this.
  15. bdunnse

    bdunnse Who dat?

  16. 712

    712 Constatutionalist, U.S.N. Viet Nam vet 66'

    bdunnse better change your brand of beer if it makes you throw up like that
     
    Del Ihle and bdunnse like this.
  17. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Sorry, I think you have the wrong forum. You may be looking for coinbarf.com.
     
    NSP, bdunnse, 712 and 1 other person like this.
  18. coleguy

    coleguy Coin Collector

    I'll test bdunnse's theory, using himself and his insistence on Google and research bearing fruit. Hopefully he can help me decide what to do when I have a 'burnout on tm1 causing a grid current surge. Will I retain db's or TE?' Best of luck, man.
     
    Del Ihle likes this.
  19. bdunnse

    bdunnse Who dat?

    Simple...that's not a stupid question. You did your due diligence, were unsuccessful and have every right to ask the question without sounding stupid.
     
  20. bkozak33

    bkozak33 Collector

    Thats a stupid question to ask on a coin forum. Some people here don't know the difference between proofs and business strikes, So how could they answer your question?
     
  21. bdunnse

    bdunnse Who dat?

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