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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;iPen, post: 2682410, member: 69760&quot;]I&#039;ve read that the 1892 Columbian Exposition commemorative half dollar proof has two definitive diagnostics, one on each side of the coin. From what I understand, the 1893 Columbian halves were made from completely different dies from the previous year. And, IIRC, while NGC designates proof strikes, PCGS does not. Part of the reason for this may be the fact that <i>all</i> of these half dollar commemoratives were stated to be made of similar strike appearance as medals unlike circulation coins of the time, as noted in the Mint Directors Report of calendar year 1892 or 1893 (I forget which one but I believe it was the latter). And, proof strike procedures, per se, weren&#039;t specifically documented as having been taken place. Rather, the first 100, 400th, 1,492nd, and 1,892nd coins were reserved (I believe it was for both years but that may just be for the 1892 year coin only).</p><p><br /></p><p>So, were these 103 coins made with extra care - the same kind seen on proof coins? Specifically, I would think that they had a single proof die that they used for the first 100 coins, which was then switched out for a business die until the 400th coin came up, which in turn was switched out for the proof die, and so forth. This makes me think that coins immediately following the 1,892nd (or 1,893rd for the following year?) die had proof diagnostics, since perhaps they didn&#039;t feel the need to switch out the dies. That may be the reason why a business strike coin emerged with the same <a href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/3083/1892-Columbian-Half-Dollar/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/3083/1892-Columbian-Half-Dollar/" rel="nofollow">proof diagnostics</a> for the 1892 Columbian half dollar (pics below).</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, does anyone know what the proof diagnostics are for the 1893 Columbian halves, or at least what&#039;s suspected or used by NGC to determine them as proofs?</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks in advance!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Pics from NGC site from link above.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/usercontent/images/article_images/20121206-PF-diag-obv.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/usercontent/images/article_images/20121206-MS-diag-obv.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><font size="4">1892 Columbian half dollar obverse proof diagnostics - double line running parallel to collar on Columbus&#039; neck line. Proof on left, business strike with proof diagnostics on right.</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/usercontent/images/article_images/20121206-PF-diag-rev.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/usercontent/images/article_images/20121206-MS-diag-rev.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><font size="4">1892 Columbian half dollar reverse proof diagnostics - line running across bottom of central sail. Proof on left, business strike with proof diagnostics on right.</font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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