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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;7Jags, post: 8398658, member: 78719&quot;]I have wrestled with this topic for many years and confess to not having the answer &amp; largely given up. However, the topic was brought to the fore by an upcoming Aussie auction of 19th and 20th C. proof coins mainly from proof sets, but also including a number of alleged &quot;VIP&quot; (I hate that term and it does NOT seem to have come from the time coins were struck) Crowns from the 20th Century.</p><p><br /></p><p>Whilst I confess that they are nice coins indeed, the price estimates in Aussie $$ seem a bit fancy - well hard to tell in today&#039;s market.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back to the original point: the proof predecimal crowns of 20th century are known from the standard dates - 1927, 1935, 1937, 1951, 1953, 1960 (omitted the 1902).</p><p>The first three are 0.500 silver with the exception of the 0.925 proof 1935 and the last three in copper nickel.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are some problems with designation in recent years however. In the last 30 or so years it has become more common to list some coins as so-called &quot;VIP&quot; (Very Important Person) Record proofs as they do generally appear rather nice. These are of ordinary years however, and proofs are known and somewhat common in what might be termed a &quot;standard&quot; form with polished dies and specially struck [perhaps] twice on specially prepped planchets. The preparation difference between these two types - if accepted as separate - is not entirely clear however.</p><p>With especially fresh dies and when struck earlier from them, coins of the more common &quot;type&quot; or &quot;variety&quot; can have increased levels of device contrast that in recent years the TPGs such as NGC and PCGS have termed &quot;Cameo&quot; or &quot;Deep Cameo/Ultra Cameo&quot;. These also are generally nice specimens and present better than so-called ordinary strikes from later die stages. So much better that some appear equal to the so-called &quot;VIP&quot; strikes. Auction values for the latter are a bit sketchy as they do not appear often with that designation (and the times they do seem to not be clear at all that is what they actually are) but the former are generally going for higher and higher prices whereas at one time there was little price difference in them or appreciation from more normal pieces.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have included a couple of pictures of each (also I apologise that one is taken through the plastic), and would ask readers if they choose to guess which is which and give opinion as to whether they spot significant differences. Also, if they can present cases or evidence of CLEAR difference between the supposedly special versions and the cameo.</p><p>Also, I know as I often say as much:&nbsp; &quot;have to see in hand, can&#039;t tell from photos&quot;.....Also, does I seem justified that there is a possible 500% price difference between them?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1490182[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1490183[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1490184[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1490185[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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