Realcent.org

Noob question:
How does one determine whether a circulated coin he finds is a proof? (What attributes does a proof have that other coins don't?)
Also, how can one spot NIFC coins?

found a 2000S Sacagawea and a 1959 Proof nickel

i promise to get this updated by the end of the month...
everyone keep posting...

Locutus,

Most proofs have an S mint mark (see the first post of this thread for a listing of the years when just an S mint mark is enough to tell a coin is a proof). If an S mint mark isn't enough to tell if a coin is a proof (say they minted circulation coins in San Fransisco too for that year) or the proofs for that year have no mint mark (older proofs were minted in Philadelphia with the 1999P Proof SBA dollar as an exception) you have to go by how the coins look. Proofs should have extremely reflective flat surfaces and their rims are usually significantly thicker than normal coins. The high points on some proofs are so frosty that the coins have almost a cameo appearance.

-Brian

Thanks, Brian.

Are S-war nickels proofs? I recently found a 1943-S and 1945-S nickels (one each, already reported in the tracking thread).

Locutus,

Nope. The only war nickel proofs are some 1942P's.

Brian

Found a 2010S Franklin Pierce dollar

I got a 1997 Proof Lincoln Penny, from McDonalds this week. Still in great shape, must not have been in circulation long. Someone really needed a McDouble I guess.

Found a 1987S penny.

kestrelia wrote:Found a 1987S penny.

Awesome.......I keep hoping with all my might that I will find any 1987 proof coins in my searches for the son's 25th birth year coin project that is looming closer as each day passes.

Great Find!!!

Enjoy your coin searches, everyone.

finally got around to updating the thread. next update after this wasn't until September 6th.

kestrelia wrote:Found a 2010S Franklin Pierce dollar

Hi,

Was reading some of your recent blog entries again today and saw where you mentioned find some mint set dollar coins. So I went to my RedBook ans only one of the years, I think, was a NIFC year. So how would I tell if a coin had come out of a mint set? Thanks for your help. I love learning new things.



Edited to remove part of post that was more on a personal note. Vision did me in again as I thought I had touched button to send a PM and saw it was a post instead. Sorry guys. This is embarrassing and humiliating that I can't seem to function these days.

I went to my dump bank today and they asked me if I wanted any Ike dollars. They said someone brought them in and their coin machine wont take them. So I took 5 $20. rolls and found this proof.
1976S proof Type 1 Ike dollar

Found a 1982 S Dime, is that a proof? Still a bit unsure on how to determine a proof. I think I have found some Nickel proofs (really shiny) but not 100%.

Found a 2000S VA quarter (not silver).

I think I found a '64 proof nickel. Im not sure though. It just has a mirror like finish and sticks out from the others.

Found a 2004S Sacagawea dollar.

Found a 1987S penny (2nd this year).

$25 Brink's Box yields:

1981-S Proof Penny - Looks perfect, except for a couple very light fingerprints.

$100 Brinks Box nickels

1989 S

$100 String box nickels

1999 S

$25 Brink's Box yields:

1982-S Proof Penny (COPPER too!!) - Looks almost new, except for some light fingerprints.

Found a 2005S Oregon quarter (clad).

Found a 1996S penny.