Among a large group of coins I purchased recently there were a few that I'm wondering if they might be proofs. I can easily identify modern proofs, but I know that older proofs are not necessarily so easy to distinguish as they might not have the mirror fields and other details we associate with modern proofs. Specifically I have a 1948 South Africa farthing, a few different 1952 South Africa coins and a 1928 Irish penny. Any picture I tried to take would not capture what I see in person so I hesitate to even try. But the coins have so much luster it really makes me wonder. Anyone have experience with anything in this area?
Well, I have had the same question for some time now, too. I remember asking NGC how they could tell the difference between the South African BU, Prooflike, and Proof strikes. No response. I also remember posting this South African 1897 6 Pence here a few years back and being soundly told it was definitely not a proof - even though it has some of the hallmarks of proof coinage: I'm not sure if that helps at all...just to know you're not the only one seeking that information.
I'm not expert on Irish or South African coins but I thought that by the late 1920s at least, most proofs did have a mirror finish. If they don't have a mirror finish a proof should have very strong details all over and probably a sharp, square rim.
During this time some countries were making matte proofs as well, the US, GB and France are three I know that did. I assume the royal mint struck S.A. coinage too? I owned 3 matte proof Maundy pieces from the era, graded by NGC as such, but for the life of me, had the 3 pence not been graded, I would have just thought it was a really nice mint state strike. I've owned some older proofs from 1920s Czechoslovakia and they are mirrored. To the OPs question, I owned a 1940s three pence from South Africa, graded as a proof and it had distinctly mirrored surfaces, so I would assume you're coins should as well. Shouldn't be any mistaking the business from proofs there. As for Irish coinage, I'm of no help, but I again assume the royal mint was producing that coinage too, so the proofs should be mirrored as well with an overall "wet" look. Older proofs tend not to have a cameo effect, the reason the ones that do are sought after with corresponding higher prices! My problem is when the older proofs are toned and it's hard to get a good look to see if the coin is mirrored or not.
The 3 coins you mentioned should all be easily discernable as proofs. All 3 were struck with full mirrors and extremely sharp strikes. They look nothing like their MS counterparts.
The South African coins were struck at the Pretoria Mint though I assume a lot of the staff were British and had possibly worked at the Royal Mint. The Irish coins I assume were struck at the Royal Mint.
Cool, didn't know that. I don't know much about world mints, so I want sure if it when South Africa had it's own mint. I'll have to look into it!
