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Message:: [QUOTE="-jeffB, post: 2020021, member: 27832"]I can certainly remember when *I* didn't understand the difference between proof and uncirculated. Well, I understood the difference in manufacturing, but I still sort of thought of "proof" as "really, really uncirculated". It didn't help that most proofs in those days were not "frosted" or "cameo" (where the blank areas look like mirrors but the designs look white), and that the Red Book tables of coin prices had their "proof" column to the right of the "uncirculated" column. To the original poster, it takes practice, but only a little, to learn to tell the difference between an uncirculated modern proof coin and an uncirculated "business strike" coin. With more practice, you can even tell the difference between an old circulated proof and a circulated business strike -- but the more worn the coin is, the harder it is, and the more practice you'll need. So I guess my point is, "practice"! Keep looking at coins, and paying attention to the differences you see, and -- yes -- asking questions here. We'll have you hooked in no time. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]