Going through a box of US nickels, found a circulated 1998 canadian nickel that looks like it might be a proof. There appears to be some frosting on the letters, a mirrored background, and I can't tell about the design images. I've seen enough prooflike US coins to know it's possible for an over polished die to produce a prooflike effect, but usually without any frosting. In US coins dated 1971 forward, you can verify a proof by it's mintmark (with the exception of SBA's). Is there a way to distinguish canadian proofs, or is it all in the quality of the strike and die characteristics?
OK, here are scans. As you can see, if the design was frosted, there is little to no evidence left of it. but I've seen proof kennedies that were so circulated, there was no evidence of the frosting left. I have one kennedy proof half that the only proof like quality left in it is the slightly mirrored background near the design elements.
well you talked about the mirror backround and i have also noticed that on alot of canadian coins , it shows a mirror backround which i dont think will be worth more because of it. its normal for a canadian coin but i def. keep my canadian coins. lots of people would want them in big lots so add on to it UScoins
Looks like a regular business strike based on the pictures. A proof-like coin would not have the same degree of bumps on the rim, if any at all. A proof will have ultra heavy cameo'd devices - the portrait, beaver and all lettering will be frosted on top of an extremely brilliant mirror field.
jello, this coin has seen some circulation. Here's an image of a Kennedy Proof pulled from circulation. You'll see that many of the properties you describe are disappearing from the half dollar. I think what has me convinced this is not a proof is that I think there would still be frosting left in the beaver design in the low points as they would be shielded from wear. On mine, they are clear.
The proofs are double struck, so it's difficult for the relief to lose its frosty appearance through wear unless excessive.
I've seen some proof kennedy's with excessive wear. Which baffles me because I though the only circulation they saw was people searching through them for silver.
gatzdon, I was referring specifically to the Cdn. 5c in regards to wear, sorry if I didn't make that clear. I really don't know how a proof Kennedy would look after certain degrees of wear. But differences in metallurgical content as well as minting processes may have an impact on how either coin behaves when thrown into circulation. If I see a true proof coin that's been circulated, the immediate thoughts that cross my mind are that either a collector deemed a "baggy" proof too damaged to be of collectible value thus spend it, or it's his/her kid raiding the coin collection for money to spend at the candy store. (Although 50c would certainly buy a lot of candy back in the day!)
I didn't mean to imply you were wrong, I was merely pointing out that I've found so many proofs in circulation. I've come to the conclusion that all of the following are happening, 1. someone receives coins as a gift, doesn't care for them, doesn't think they are worth enough to bother finding a coin shop to sell them, breaks them open, and spends them at face value. 2. someone steals a coin collection and either is afraid of getting caught selling them, or doesn't care about the real value and just cashes them in (drug addicts and kids come to mind here) 3. coin collector dies, and family members assume it's worthless (remember the stereotype of parents telling kids their baseball card collection is a waste of time/money). they don't bother appraising it and just cash it in. I've found plenty of things in circulation that anybody with an inkling of awareness about coins would never dream of putting in their pocket, let alone spend at face value. I've found a 1912D Barber in XF, 1960 Proof Franklin, 1964 Proof Kennedy, 1965 and 1967 SMS Kennedy, Bicentenial silver proofs and uncirculated, etc... while it's a shame that someone is spending them, my son and I love finding them when we go through rolls.
Thanks to everyone who replied. Not that I'll be buying any anytime soon, but I've learned abit about canadian proof coins. It's nice to see the tribute to nature. It's a shame american coins moved away from tributes to liberty, freedom, and what america used to stand for.
Canada, like several other countries, uses chromeplated dies to strike their circulation coins and the often come with mirror finishes. If the dies are new the devices will also usually show some frost. There are several countries where there circulation coins are the quality of our late 60's early 70's proof coins.
the mirror 'proof like' background is not normal for our coins. I have only found one in circulation myself and that was a quarter. No mint mark, it came from Ottawa and a W mintmark is from winnipeg
Is this true for Canadian coins all the way back into the '60s as well? I found what appears to be a proof - it's certainly proof-like - 1963 Canadian nickel in my change a few months back.
