Are these toned mercury dimes Proofs or just Unc?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Mitchell Wright, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. Hello, new here. I recently inherited Grandpa's collection and am going through them one by one, it's fascinating. I've been a on-off collector since childhood but this has really ignited a new passion! Anyway, I pulled these two mercury dimes out of one of his Whitman books because they were gleaming differently than the others. Are they proofs? The fields and strike appear so to me, but again i'm just learning again. I don't see the radial mint luster lines of a business strike, so another reason I ask.


    Thanks and look forward to more collecting! Mitch.

    IMG_2143.JPG IMG_3876.JPG IMG_3975 2.JPG IMG_4432.JPG IMG_5608.JPG IMG_2143.JPG IMG_3876.JPG IMG_3975 2.JPG IMG_4432.JPG IMG_5608.JPG
     
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  3. Dougmeister

    Dougmeister Well-Known Member

    By definition, they are toned.

    I don't think that "radial mint luster lines" have anything to do with business strike vs. proof, but I'm more than happy to be corrected by the experts here.

    I don't think that the rims are square enough to be proof, but again, willing and happy to be corrected.

    Nice coins!
     
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  4. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I had my entire collection in the Blue Whitman folders. I started them in 1948. I recently started to go through my entire collection. The Whitman folders with a backing feature left black marks on the reverse of some of my coins. So, I took them all out and started the album process all over. Nice looking dimes. Welcome to CT.
     
  5. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    The 1944 isn't a proof because they didn't make proofs that year.

    The 1938 is not a proof, and does appear to me to have the radial lines you are looking for.
     
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  6. Thanks for the info on the 44, I should have looked that up.

    I see the lines now on both. Thanks for your help.
     
  7. Thanks, I have a lot of unc Morgan’s and Peace dollars in these same binders in great condition but with the black toning. However, it’s not so bad as there are an equal amount in the same type of books with nice even toning. Works out well I guess
     
  8. robec

    robec Junior Member

    If these were proofs they would also have split bands which none of these have.
     
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  9. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    If you will notice, some of the albums don't have exposed glue on the backing paper. Some others do. It seems like the backing was put on with the glue on the cardboard part on some. And, on other ones it seems the glue was put on the paper first. This process allowed the dried glue to be exposed to the coins. The exposed glue darkens the coins more. JMO.
     
  10. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    Not proofs. But the 38 has pretty toning
     
  11. SilverDollar2017

    SilverDollar2017 Morgan dollars

    Not proofs - business strikes with toning.
     
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