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Aug 13, 2019 · A traditional Proof coin—and still the most common type of Proof coin—is one that has a frosted appearance on the devices (the raised parts of the design) and a mirrored finish on the part of the coin without design, known as the fields. Proof coins graded by NGC feature PF (for Proof) before the grade, as in PF 70.
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- Proof, Proof Cameo and Proof Ultra Cameo
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Sep 10, 2019 · PF refers to a coin struck as a Proof. The numeric grade of Proof coins is preceded by PF even if the grade is below 60. For example, a 50 is described a PF 50 on the NGC certification label. While the MS and PF abbreviations are by far the most common, there are actually two other types prefixes used by NGC to indicate different methods of ...
May 8, 2018 · Proof Ultra Cameo. Click images to enlarge. The NGC Census lists Proof (PF), Proof Cameo (PFCA) and Proof Ultra Cameo (PFUC) on separate lines. For instance, for the 1980 Equestrian Silver 30 Yuan, as of May 2018, NGC has graded 18 in PF, 406 in PFCA and 347 in PFUC. The NGC US Coin Price Guide also distinguishes between these designations.
- What Exactly Is A Proof Coin?
- How Is A Proof Coin Made?
- How Are Proof Coins Handled and stored?
- Why Are Proof Coins Made? What’s Their History?
- Yearly Mintage Numbers of Proofs
- How Proof Coins Are Graded
- The Cost of Proof Coins
- Mint Facilities and Locations That Make Proofs
We glazed over the general description of proofs, but let’s get more specific. Foremost, proof coins are made for collectors, special occasions or other numismatic purposes. They are not coins intended for general circulation. Now, let’s get into some proof coin anatomy.
The Mint must use a special minting process to achieve the proof finish and overall look. The minting methods have actually improved through the years, resulting in superior proof finishes. Here’s that process as described by the United States Mint: When breaking down the distinct parts of creating a proof, you can see a clearer picture of the proc...
It’s important to realize that proof coins are not meant for general use or public circulation. They’re meant for coin collectors or numismatists. Because they’re uncirculated and designed that way, these coins by their very nature shouldn’t show signs of wear. That means there will no handling or bag marks and few, if any, nick or other abrasions ...
The concept of proof coins goes back centuries. From early on, specialized care, extra time, polished dies and other "proof-like" processes were used in what could only be described as a very basic quality assurance program. The "prototype" coins created were studied for problems so any needed adjustments could be made prior to mass minting. The fi...
The real explosion in demand for proofs occurred in the early 1900’s. Mintage numbers went up from just a few thousand in the 1930’s to tens of thousands and then eventually hundreds of thousands in the 1950’s. Today, many countries make proof coins and sets for collectors. The U.S. Mint produces millions of different proof coins every single year.
First, it’s important to note that the term "proof" does not refer to the grade or condition of a coin. It only describes how a coin is manufactured. That can be somewhat confusing for some simply since a proof coin implies, because of the way they’re made, a certain "near perfection" distinction. Proofs are classified with a "PF" designation. (It’...
Just like other coins, the price scale of a proof coin has many factors. However, generally speaking, you’ll often notice that proof coins are more expensive than other uncirculated coins made for collectors and they’re always worth more than business strike or circulated coins. That’s to be expected considering they’re made specifically for collec...
The United States Mint was created by Congress on April 2, 1792, and placed under the Department of State’s control. Under the Coinage Act of 1873, the Mint became part of the Treasury Department and in 1981 it was placed directly under the Treasurer of the United States. The U.S. Mint is not one single "place" but rather an institution. Over the y...
May 16, 2024 · The two most common types are MS and PF. MS or Mint State refers to a coin struck for circulation—or in the same style as a coin struck for circulation. It also means that the coin grades between 60 and 70. Circulation issues in grades below 60 receive a different prefix based on their adjectival grade range. PF or Proof issues, are coins ...
These prefixes stand for Proof and Specimen, respectively, and they’re typically used instead of MS to denote uncirculated coins struck specifically for collectors or as presentation pieces to dignitaries, heads of state, etc. (Think “Mint State” or MS for uncirculated circulation coins, and “Proof” or PF for modern, specially struck collector coins.)
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What does PF mean on a proof coin?
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Graded coins can be classified using specific scales (MS for Mint State and PF for Proof). These scales help determine a coin’s condition and value. How does the MS coin grading scale classify the condition of coins? The MS (Mint State) scale ranges from MS60 to MS70. MS60 describes coins with noticeable flaws but no wear.
