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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;stldanceartist, post: 2720265, member: 13307&quot;]Good morning!</p><p><br /></p><p>Just picked up this Swiss 1952 1/2 Franc last week.&nbsp; Just your normal, run of the mill everyday purchase for silver melt at a LCS.&nbsp; Or so I thought...</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]615978[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Once I had it out of the 2x2, I noticed that the obverse looks like an impaired proof (has a mirror shine to it at certain angles) - but not the reverse.&nbsp; I decided to take a closer look with my loupe...and well, here are some photos of what I saw:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]615980[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]615979[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]615977[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>So, we have very distinct doubling primarily on the left side of the obverse, decreasing as it gets closer to the center.&nbsp; Very evident on the stars, the drapery, central figure&#039;s right (viewer&#039;s left) arm, shield.&nbsp; Which I think is pretty cool.&nbsp; Also see a die chip on the first star above the designer&#039;s name on the bottom left, and a slight cameo effect (although decreased due to wear) - so I&#039;m wondering the following:</p><p><br /></p><p>Is this coin a &quot;specimen&quot; strike?&nbsp; I would tend to think not, as the reverse looks like it was struck from a normal business strike die.&nbsp; But the obverse looks like a proof strike, so...</p><p><br /></p><p>Was this coin struck with a retired specimen strike obverse die and a business strike reverse die?&nbsp; Is the die chip a known diagnostic?</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for your replies in advance.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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