Hi Folks went to a munismatics faire sunday - apart from finding out how little I know, I saw a couple of what looked like NGC slabbed coins with a PL 61 grade. Now I'm familiar with the 1-70 grade and why proof coins have a PR rating, but a PL rating is new to me. Also, is PR rating only between 60-70? Would you get a PR51 coin, or does it just fall into the AU XF etc grade? I hope that makes some kind of sense... Thanks!
PL = proof like Proof like means a shinny surface, but not manufactured as a proof-- that is the dies are polished but the coin is a regular circulation strike. "PR51 coin, or does it just fall into the AU XF" A circulated proof coin could be graded as PR-50 or PR-55 or whatever the grade.
Ah thanks. So we have PL = Proof Like (only dies polished), Cameo (polished dies and ... polished blank? Struck many times?). And Ultra Cameo? Just struck even more times for a 'deeper' impression? Does that mean PL would be in place of MS for 'normal' business strikes?
belix: Pl means proof like, that is the dies are polished by the mint prior to striking, possibly because of a die clash, or whatever. Cameo, one of the first strike from a polished die. Ultra Cameo (NGC's term) then there is Ultra Deep Cameo, and PCGS uses slightly different terms, just means the degree of cameo-- that is contrast between the fields and the devices (eg liberty's head on a Morgan dollar). "Does that mean PL would be in place of MS for 'normal' business strikes?" No-- it would be: (for example) MS-65 PL or MS-63 Cameo PL