I've been on a roll lately lol. The first Columbian half looks as if it's a DMPL. It's got a deep mirroring like a proof strike coin. It's more mirroring than I've ever seen on any other PL Columbians! You can read text from like a foot or more away! The first photo is the one I took. I had issues taking more photos so I posted the seller's original photos to follow. But IMHO, that's not the best coin! The second Columbian is a PL, too but not as deep of a mirrored fields as the first one. However, the proof markers are all sharply defined! Check the parallel lines in the triangular fields behind Columbus' neck, and the parallel line of the central sail along the bottom. Here are the diagnostics as documented by NGC. Do you think that they're DMPL and proof coins? Thanks in advance! 1892 DMPL !? : ---------------------------------------------------------- EDIT: 1892 Proof ?! :
Can't tell from the photo's which diagnostics match your coin. I definitely like the mirrors on the first coin. What do you think caused those black marks? Was it "mounted" in some type of display? Like something was holding the coin at 6 o'clock and started to react with the silver? The second coin has beautiful album toning. I'll bet it's stunning in hand. I thought proof coins had more squared rims. I'm not an expert on commems, so I'll wait to see what others post. Do you think either of them are a proof?
I like coin #1 as a dmpl, it looks like it indeed has acrossed the room mirrors. Coin#2 however, are you SURE that the 1892 proof diagnostics can be used to identify the 1893 proofs as well?? I was actually looking (not very long) for the 1893 proof markers myself and could not find them. I would think, that if they used proof dies to strike circulation coins in 1892 as well that year, wouldnt there be different markers for the 1893 proof? I do not know the answer to this question but i would like to find out. Does anyone have any @Insider info on the 1893 proof markers??
They weren't mounted, though maybe album toned? The black mark is a dark deep toned spot. The second one is struck from a proof die. But, I'm unsure if they're a proof strike, or a business strike using proof dies.
The second coin obverse die appears to match the diagnostic. But since die making was such a process back then they just used the proof dies to continue striking 'business strikes' after the first few actual proofs. No idea how the TPG make a determination between the two though. Too bad about that spot on the first coin as it kills the eye appeal imo and spots like that never come off fully in my experience.
I thought they were reused for the following year. I'll have to compare a graded example from 1893 and see if the diagnostics match up.
OK, here are graded examples of an 1893 proof Columbian. I think that the same diagnostics are there, albeit difficult to make out from the given photos.
I didn't think they were mounted in jewelry or anything like that and it's why I put "quotes" around mounting. I couldn't think of an alternate word and I don't know how to explain the black tarnish on the first coin. It doesn't look like album toning. I just wonder whether one of the previous owners of the coin had it displayed somehow and what ever was holding it in the display caused the reaction. It looks terminal. If it was in an album, I would think the toning would be more pronounced around the rims, like the second coin you posted.
Yea, thats as far as i got, when looking for those diagnostics. I couldnt tell then, and i cant tell now as they dont give closeups. Also, the graded example looks like a normal prooflike coin to me. The rims on MY '93 PL are more wire-edge looking than the examples ive seen online. Mine has a nice cameo as well, which is why i was looking for them . Edit: i DO remember reading that the waves and (iirc) the hull, has better detail on the proof than the business strike
WAIT! The second coin is from 1892! HOLY COW I can't believe I misread that! And, it has 1892 proof die markers on both sides! Is this a proof then??
Spoiler I was so used to dealing with the 1893 Columbians that I completely lost my train of thought!
The requisite sharpness of strike appears absent from coin no. 2, despite having been struck with the proof dies. I think you've got a second really nice business strike.
From the small bit of info ive gathered- 1893 appears to be a tad scarcer in PL Not sure about dmpl though, idk that ive ever seen a graded Columbian dmpl
