Proof coins!

Does anybody else here have a special place in their heart for proof coins? I just love the finish on them and "perfectness" even compared to all the other coins in my collection. I've got an 11 year run from 1998 - 2009 with some fillers before and after! Oldest being 1958!! Who else collects these fascinating sets?

 

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Proofs had an easy life. I collect the kind that work for a living. But seriously, interesting seeing these side-by-side, I'm impressed.

 

My sets are 2002 Silver proof
2020 clad proof
2020 silver proof

Other than that, just bits and pieces. Sold off a number of proofs a couple years ago

 

Good picture by the way. Nice collection.

 

As a type collector, I prefer them, but most type collectors don't. They prefer the business strikes. Many of me post Civil War and early 20th century coins are Proofs. The one I can't get is the 1909-VDB cent. The market is just too controlled and the prices are sky high.

 

I happen to love old discontinued coins such as the half-cent, three cent silver and nickel, two cent, and 20 cent. I tried to get into a type collection but they are hard to find especially "trimes"

 

I love proof coins and have the following:

1999 – 2009 Silver Proof Quarters

1992 -1998 Silver Premier Sets

1999 – 2020 Silver Proof Sets

1983 -1997 Prestige Sets

1986 – 2021 American Silver Eagles

Not to mention my avatar, a PR70 DCAM

 

I like proofs prior to 2006...before the Mint began laser frosting the dies. I love the presentation of the 1992-1998 Premier Sets. The iridescence is mesmerizing!

 

I like proofs and have most from the 60's up. But, I'm like @eddiespin I like the working coins. Most of my sets are circulation found. Very nice collection posted here.

 

Close up like that they do take your breath away, I have to say.

 

I'm with @johnmilton on this for my type set collecting. For many 19th century coins, the price of the high-grade proof is much more reasonable than an equivalent grade business strike. The only caveat I set is that the year of the proof coin must also have been minted that year as a business strike.

Getting back to the OPs topic, I love proofs with their strong strikes and gorgeous surfaces. Here's one received as a gift at one of the last meetings of my coin club pre-pandemic.

 

I have a few proof sets from the 1970's when I got them as presents but today my Proofs are individual coins.

Picked up a 2015 AGE MS70 @ FUN 2020.

 

Ohh, that coin is just gorgeous! Love it.

 

I'll never forget when I found my first proof Lincoln cent, many many moons ago. It had circulated, and its delicate surface showed it, all over. But I remember the thing that struck me the most. It was the reverse. I'd never seen lettering that perfect on any Lincoln cent.

 

I have them all down to 42. 55 and up are in original packaging. And I bought graded 56 and below and placed them into Capital plastic holders. The 56 set is stunning:

 

These look great! A bit jealous even though I do prefer original packaging but with these old ones, very hard to find. Thanks for sharing friend.

 

I paid a premium for this 1950 many years ago. It's way above average. Many 1950 Proof coins are dull and dipping only made the situation worse.

 

Yes! It was the 1950’s when proofs looked like they were so deep that you could reach right through them. Absolutely breathtaking coins.

 

Yeah, I agree. I basically gave up on original packaging before 55. Although 55 is fun because half the year was still in the old box format and then they switched to the flatpack. (Plus the “graded” set)

 

I have the sets from 1955 thru 1998. With a few doubles including this 1960 that I cut out of the original packaging myself.