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To Proof Or Not To Proof?

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 Posted 05/02/2025  11:16 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jpsned to your friends list
I'm a type-coin-sorta guy and don't think too much about proofs. When I began collecting in 1971, I purchased a 1971 proof set just for the sake of having one. I have a few other sets I inherited from my dad. But outside of being nice to look at every now and then, they don't really do anything for me.
Edited by jpsned
05/02/2025 11:17 am
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 Posted 05/02/2025  11:20 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

Quote:
I'm a type-coin-sorta guy and don't think too much about proofs.
It is funny, I do have one proof in my 7070.
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 Posted 05/02/2025  2:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list
My one is there because I decided to put the pair of 1982 Washington commemorative half dollars in the album. I bought one of each—proof and uncirculated—from the Mint in 1982. I still have the OGPs in storage with all the proof set materials.
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 Posted 05/02/2025  3:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Freespeech57 to your friends list
Proof coins offer you the opportunity to see how a coin's design elements look under the best circumstances (full strike, luster, etc.). A high grade proof, especially those from the 1950's and 60's, especially with a cameo contrast are truly beautiful. For example, a Franklin half which is often considered a "so so" design, but when viewed in Proof 67 and up Cameo/Deep Cameo is quite beautiful.

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 Posted 05/02/2025  3:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

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For example, a Franklin half which is often considered a "so so" design, but when viewed in Proof 67 and up Cameo/Deep Cameo is quite beautiful.
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 Posted 05/05/2025  12:34 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Erscolo to your friends list
I collect the Lincoln Cents in proof, graded and have all the issues 1950 through 2024. Now that the 2025 ones are coming down in price, I will begin to take a look at them. I bought the 2024 in PF70 in Jan 2025, for $34.95, way down from their prices in 2024, and the same will go with 2025. The proof strike is a beautiful way to showcase the minter's art.

I also have a complete set of proof issues for 1952 through 1972, and a few gaps here and there for 1973 through 1998, also graded. I also have the 1950 and 1951 issues, minus the Franklin half dollars.

I also have a complete set in original packaging for 1955 through 2025, so yes I do have a few proof coins and sets.
Edited by Erscolo
05/05/2025 12:37 pm
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 Posted 09/25/2025  07:55 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bosstone100 to your friends list
I regret getting the 8xxx series Dansco albums. My Lincoln Memorial cents albums have are 7xxx albums with added pages exclusively for proofs looks really good. I try to stay the same within a denomination as a guide.

Quarters drive me nuts. Silver proofs, proofs, S mints, W mints, etc. I just looked through, my Washington Eagleback quarter album and haven't even filled in most of the clad coins. All of the silver and proofs are already in there.

If I did it all over again, I would have kept proofs separate but then again, I didn't start with Dansco albums and some of them were difficult to get. Oh well.

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 Posted 09/25/2025  08:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Humanist1287 to your friends list
Yes. The quarters are a bit goofy IMO. Personally, I like the simplicity that they had with the State Quarter series. P, D, s proofs and silver proofs. That's it. I don't know if they made W mint mark coins. I don't recall seeing anything about them. I personally have a "date set" album with one clad proof coin for the State Quarters in each hole, and it looks pretty cool to me. I'm not interested in collecting the expensive silver proofs.

I've arrived at the conclusion personally regarding proofs that it really depends on the series. At the time of making this thread, I initially had all my Jefferson nickels from 1938-2005 in a Dansco business strike album. I had some proofs already, so I figured what the heck and ended up getting the rest of the proofs as well. After I got all the proofs, I swapped them over to an 8113 album, since I had it around already. It was a very good move IMO. In theory however, I am not a completionist and I don't necessarily have to have the proof coins every time I collect a series.

The other proofs that I had, namely the non proof only issues, I just opted to stick into the blank spots and I like the way it looks.
That said, one of the things about Dansco that drives me BONKERS is the fact that basically none of the albums (outside of SBA dollars) include the 1981 type ll proof spot. They always have the 1979 l & ll types, but never the 1981.

Another thing that seems to perplex people is the fact that all Dansco albums, with the exception of the Kennedy half dollars, don't include all proofs. This is why they always state "proof only," as they only include the coins that were proof only issues, as opposed to coin series that have both a business strike and proof coin in the same year from the same mint, I.E., many of the S and Philly coins in the 50's and 60's had this scenario.

I'm currently weighing in on collecting the proof strikes at some point for the Lincoln cents. The thing is, I already have the 7100 album. However, I do also have a blank page. But I like the idea of having the 8100 album with all of the proof only issues in the corresponding correct spots. I'm not sure, though. Cause these Dansco's aren't cheap!
Edited by Humanist1287
09/25/2025 08:33 am
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 Posted 09/25/2025  09:44 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

Quote:
I regret getting the 8xxx series Dansco albums... If I did it all over again, I would have kept proofs separate but then again, I didn't start with Dansco albums and some of them were difficult to get. Oh well.
Alas, hindsight is 20/20.
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 Posted 09/25/2025  10:29 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

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I'm not sure, though. Cause these Dansco's aren't cheap!
Decisions, decisions.

I am glad I have been able to accept and work with what I have since I bought most of them in my teens.

For fun—or torture, depending on your point of view—I have contemplated what I would do if I started all over. After a few minutes it drives me silly, so I go back to being happy with what I have built over 40+ years.

The closest thing to a problem I have now as is the Innovation dollars album I bought to hold just the proof and reverse proof releases (I do not bother with the circulation strikes). It appears they may both be going away next year. Whatever. That is future-me's problem.
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 Posted 09/25/2025  12:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cptbilly to your friends list
My USM proof sets date to 1954. Nearly all remain in their OGP. With two exceptions ( FHD & ASE ) I haven't collected single proof coins of any denomination. The two Whitman albums I have were inherited. Haven't caught the album bug.
" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
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 Posted 09/26/2025  9:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add seamonkey5150 to your friends list

Quote:
none of the albums (outside of SBA dollars) include the 1981 type ll proof spot. They always have the 1979 l & ll types, but never the 1981

That drives me nuts, it's not like they don't have extra spaces..and why just the SBA's

Quote:
all Dansco albums, with the exception of the Kennedy half dollars, don't include all proofs. This is why they always state "proof only," as they only include the coins that were proof only issues, as opposed to coin series that have both a business strike and proof coin in the same year from the same mint, I.E., many of the S and Philly coins in the 50's and 60's had this scenario.

I could see them not including the 50-64 proofs since not everyone would want to add them but they could have at least started the proofs from 68 along with the business strike S mint ones. Their aren't that many duplicate S mints. But they have the 3 legged Buffalo....
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 Posted 09/27/2025  01:25 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add GLB49 to your friends list
Well, I like proofs and buy them as often as I can. But, that's just me.
My American Silver Eagle collection http://goccf.com/t/448125
My random silver coin collection http://goccf.com/t/449270
My MS-70 silver coin collection https://goccf.com/t/490829
My dragon silver coin collection https://goccf.com/t/490859
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