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Message:: [QUOTE="kaparthy, post: 103040, member: 57463"]Not Just Shinier As noted, Proof coins tend to have frosty images and lettering on a mirror background.  That is mostly true for modern coins. after about 1970.  For earlier coins, you often have to KNOW the coin intimately to know the difference between a true proof and a superior business strike. The first business strikes off the press will often have proof-like characteristics.  The dies are fresh and sharp. However, true proofs are struck on polished (or at least cleaned) planchets. As a general rule, Proofs are struck multiple times, not just once.  In fact, Breen defines proof this way -- and that makes all 1907 Double Eagles to be proofs -- and not everyone agrees on that, certainly not the people who paid more for "real" proofs.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />-) Also, very often, proofs are struck from different dies.  That is why you have to know the coin.  Generally speaking, Mints do not use the same dies for proofs as for circulation strikes.  However, this does happen -- both in the USA during lean years in the 1800s and in small nations, of course -- so you have know when that took place and when it did not.[/QUOTE]