Picked up the full 2018 s Silver Reverse Proof Set, after getting my JFK 2018 Silver Reverse Proof as a MS 70. The retail price has come down a lot, and I missed buying it in 2018. They are beautiful reverse proofs—the holders are a bit dusty, but nothing my cleaning method can’t fix.
Some of the reverse proofs are really nice. I hate the nickel...but to be fair, I hate the regular nickel too . I only have a couple of reverse proof coins:
I like the Saint-Gaudens National Park Commemoratives in silver, esp. reverse proofs. I'd like the gold ones even more.
I know they’re probably harder to make but reverse proofs really should be the norm. They look so much better than actual proofs
Not ALL the time, BB. I do like the "change of pace" with silver and maybe you can make a case for the norm with them. But with gold, I don't quite see the attractiveness that I like it as much as silver when comparing to a normal proof. I think with gold most people want the shiny reflective proof on the fields and not on the devices.
Everyone has their own tastes for sure, but the more reflective the quicker some minuscule problem hits you in the face across the room. I strongly prefer gold RPs as well.
I like the reverse proof coins too. It makes the perfection of the bust so much more important when picking out proofs. So much harder to get a 70 as well (or so I've heard..). I had a NGC PR69 2018 S silver 10c reverse proof a few years back. Sold it though. It was in a special holder or whatever and I got it pretty cheaply so it was a good sell.
I posted this one for comparison to the 2018 reverse proof above. For some reason I like the traditional of this design more. And that's in no way saying I wouldn't add the RP at some point.
They have their place. I bought this for the 1997 slot in my prime number set because I think it is the earliest US Mint attempt at the concept, which they sadly abandoned in 2004. I also bought this 2017 Ozark (same set) because it works well with the design. Both also happen to illustrate my point that the term "Reverse Proof" is numismatic nonsense. Neither coin is a proof. A more correct term would be "Proof with Reverse Cameo," but the Mint saw fit to bungle the vocabulary. For all the modern proofs that use it, it's almost necessary for the sake of the design not being obliterated by the 60-grit cameo finish they use. A slightly less mirror-like device would probably be an improvement, as the design wouldn't be so lost in the reflectiveness of the coin. The water on the quarter above I believe is rendered with a more mirror-like finish than the border background. Totally appropriate for the design.
