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 collector, for many dates which were considered fairly common in uncirculated condition, such as the 1879-O and 1880-O Morgan dollar, were disclosed to be extremely scarce or rare in gem MS 65 uncirculated grade and gem MS 65 prooflike! With these disclosures by a respected expert in the field, the Morgan dollar market bloomed almost overnight. By the early 1980''s, it was the single largest area of collector interest in U.S. numismatics, simply because it was disclosed that in addition to the other benefits of 1. Beauty, 2. Quality, and 4. Low price, many dates in the series also enjoyed a high degree of 3. Rarity, in higher grade. The 1950-1970 Cameo Proof series is currently positioned at the same point the Morgan dollar market found itself in the mid-1970''s. Like the Morgan dollar market at that time, the current cameo proof market has been enjoying increasing popularity among collectors with each passing year, despite the birth of published information on the subject. The fact is, high grade cameo examples of many of the rarer cameo dates are so rare that few dealers have ever seen such coins. The cameo proof series, premierproofset like the Morgan dollar series, has been crying for a comprehensive book devoted to it. Here is one final, very important similarly between the Morgan dollar series and the Cameo Proof series: In grading prooflike Morgan dollars, the two largest grading services in the nation, PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), offer two grades of prooflike for that series - "DMPL" (Deep Mirror Prooflike) - for the very earliest strikes off the business die, and a simple "PL" (Prooflike) - for the slightly later strikes. PCGS and NGC now offer a similar delineation for all proof coinage from the 1950 to 1970 era. As of early February, 1992, premierproofset PCGS offers two cameo designations for early strike cameo proofs - "DCAM" (Deep Cameo - roughly equivalent to what we refer to as "ultra-heavy") - for those cameo proofs which were the very earliest strikes off the proof die, with the heaviest contrast, and a simple "CAM" (Cameo) designation for those coins which were slightly later strikes, but which still possess significant cameo contrast. NGC instituted their own two-tier system similar to PCGS'' in the spring of 1995. With PCGS and NGC now involved, novices will for the first time have their coins recognized by the most widely used grading service in opportunity to own the "ultimate". I recently sold a 1954 NGC Cameo PF 66 Lincoln cent, ultra-heavily contrasted, to a client for $400. No other series in U.S. numismatics today offer the collector so much quality, eye-appeal, and rarity, for so little money. If there is any doubt as to the rarity of a 1954 ultra-heavy cameo Lincoln cent, go out and try to find another! Attend the next local coin show. Attend the next ANA show, the next FUN show (one of the two or three largest shows of the year). Good luck! You will find other U.S. coins of far lower quality, with far less appeal, that are far more common, for the same amount of money! You won''t find that 1954 cameo cent!There are many other dates and denominations in the cameo proof series as undervalued as the 1954 cameo Lincoln. The series is loaded with "sleepers". The Special Mint Set coinage of the 1965 to 1967 period are sleepers, as is the 1950 ultra-heavy Cameo PF 65 Franklin (yes, even at $6500 - it is one of the great rarities of twentieth century coinage), 1951 ultra-heavy Cameo PF 65 Franklin, 1952 ultra-heavy Cameo PF 65 Franklin The most popular single market in U.S. numismatics today is unquestionably the silver dollar market. Yet, Click HERE for access to the Internet's most reputable source for rare coins and proofs, along with other numismatic advice. We have extensive collections of both domestic and international coin currencies, and all the latest market information to keep you on top of the game.
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