I'm a new collector and ordered my very first Silver American Eagle. It arrived today and, boy, I can now understand the alure of proof sliver coins. Very, very pretty. Next, I'm considering a second mortgage and a yard sale to be able to afford an American Eagle gold $50 when they come out for 2008.
Proof coins are awesome. :thumb: I love them all, great looking coins. Congrats on some fine additions to your collection! :thumb: Phoenix
A normal proof typically has a mirrored field and frosted devices. A reverse proof is just the opposite... frosted field with mirrored devices. The US hasn't made very many... so far just the 20th anniversary silver eagle, gold eagle, and 10th anniversary platinum eagle. Other countries make them quite often... many Austalian lunar new year coins are minted in reverse proof.
Mike, A proof coin is much more than "shiny". It is a very carefully made coin that has much more detail than a business strike. Use a 6X or 7X loupe to compare a proof coin to its business-strike counterpart and you will see what I mean. There is much more detail in the devices such as hair and feathers. You will notice the edges are sharp on a proof coin whereas they are rounded on a business strike. Similarly the tops of letters and numerals are sharp rather than rounded. Modern proof coins are often cameo where the devices are frosted and the fields have a mirror surface. A reverse proof, as the name implies, has frosted fields and mirrored devices.
