v nickel

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packaging used for these earlier coins, it almost v nickel seems a miracle that any high quality cameos from the 1950 to 1970 era exist at all! the finest cameos, being early strikes off proof dies, are quite simply "the best of the best", for they are not only struck from proof dies, the finest possible dies, but are struck nickel from those dies when they are in their most pristine, unworn state! there could not be a more striking difference between one of these first cameo strikes, and between a coin struck much later off the die - a brilliant proof. if one did not know better, one would think that the two coins were struck from two completely different dies! in a sense, they were. more correctly, they were both struck from the same die, but one coin was struck before that die had experienced v the wearing effect of 100''s of tons of pressure of metal on metal, and one coin was struck after that die had experienced those wearing effects. the opportunity of owning scarce, attractive coins that also are the ultimate in quality for their era has nickel a very special appeal to collectors. it also gives these coins tremendous "upside" potential, as it very hard to pay too much for coins that offer the collector the

successive coin struck from one of these dies would exhibit somewhat less cameo contrast than the coin before. eventually, the intense pressure of die on planchet would wear the devices to the same smooth, brilliant appearance as the surrounding fields of the coin. these subsequent coins, brilliant proofs, v have no discernible contrast between the devices and fields. they are also far more common nickel than the earlier cameo strikes. in recognition of the collector demand for these cameos, the mint began experimenting with sandblasting techniques in the early-mid 1970''s which helped create a much more intense cameo effect. they also began chromeplating the dies to give them added durability. as a result of these new techniques, proof dies today can strike many hundreds of exceptional "black & white" cameos before they begin to wear. what is somewhat astonishing, however, is that if one is patient, v and fortunate, one can occasionally find cameos minted from the earlier 1950 to 1970 era that possess the intense cameo contrast, quality, and nickel eye-appeal of these later proofs! these very early strikes, depending on the year, are obviously quite rare. when one also considers the inferior nature of the proof

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.