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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kaparthy, post: 17637, member: 57463&quot;]I wrote an artiicle for the ANA Numismatist about &quot;Cameo Proof&quot; coins.&nbsp; These are the highest state of the minter&#039;s art.&nbsp; A cameo proof has frosty devices and legends against a mirror field. They grade about PR-66 and above.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is a story about a proof dime from San Francisco being given to a dignitary&#039;s daughter who spent it on ice cream.&nbsp; A proof coin that is circulated will obviously have a lower numerical grade, but still be proof.&nbsp; PR-40, for instance.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, not all proof coins have the same grade.&nbsp; Even new from the Mint, they suffer damage that lowers their grade.&nbsp; Even in the making, some are struck up under full pressure from new dies, while others are struck with reduced pressure uinder old dies.&nbsp; The former grade higher than the latter, of course.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for your second question, this seems not to be a problem.&nbsp; If you patronize one of the Big Four firms (ANACS, ICG, NGC or PCGS) you will have fewer problems overall.&nbsp; Getting your coins back is not a problem in this day.&nbsp; NCG is the official grading service of the ANA.&nbsp; PCGS is probably the overall market leader.&nbsp; ICG was founded by people from the ANA authentication and education departments.&nbsp; ANACS was the ANA authentication service before it was sold to Amos Press, publishers of Coin World.</p><p><br /></p><p>Michael</p><p>ANA R-162953[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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