It is nearly impossible to photograph this. I did my best. It simply won't show the obverse luster, but the difference between obverse and reverse is cool. These are all the same coin. Hope you all enjoy it!
Toned proof coins, especially small ones like dimes, are an absolute bear to image (to get color AND luster.) Using an LED ring seems to help, but then it usually screws with the white balance and changes the color. I usually end up taking multiple images at different angles to give an accurate representation. I think you did a fine job capturing the color. Nice coin!
Honestly, I take the best photos with my cell phone. I use early morning natural light to avoid shadows when you go directly over the coin. Check these three out...
Yeah. 100%. I didn't know it was until I brought it to the Buffalo show this month. The error specialist used a scope.
Aside from color and proof appearance it is easy to tell a proof by the two "very bold" leaves that nearly touch the LL in the word Dollar on the reverse. These two leaves on business strikes are much more faint. The ES in States is quite separated on a proof and practically touch on a business strike. There are other diagnostics but those two leaves will tell you right off the bat.. Some of the reading I have done indicates that mint packaging was the primary reason for coins of the 50's to be toned this way. Where else would it have come from right? It looks to have spent a great deal of time in its original packaging (just my opinion). I have several 56's and 58's that display this near overwhelming electric blue tone.. If you will notice, a lot of the 1958's are this way in high grade because they were preserved in mint sets from speculators banking on this low mintage year being worth saving in large numbers....Very Sweet coin!!
Oh yeah, unless it is a business strike with a type 2 "proof" reverse (struck from residual dies used to produce proofs)... but that was 1956 to 1964..
Well, if you guys think it isn't, then maybe it isn't. I had it in a book, and a dealer asked to see it. Then he brought another guy over. They asked if I knew it was a proof, and I said no because I dont collect proofs. And they said, "Well, you got your first now."
That square rim on the obverse matches the diagnostics of the reverse. I would say that it is a proof and a nice one at that.
I agree its a proof 100% . It still has a lot of proof "mirror" surface on the reverse by the eagle's head and tail that you don't see on business strikes.
Can someone tell me what that dot is on my unplated zinc cent immediately to the right of the "5"? There is actually some discoloration around it. Is it a piece of metal or something foreign? It is in a slab so I can't access it.
