US Proof Sets Compared To Canadian Prooflike & Specimen Sets

Your questions are great ones -- many collectors have the same or similar questions. I'll offer a few thoughts, but please understand that the US Mint (USM) and Royal Canadian Mint ( RCM) have made changes to the finish on the coins they include in their annual sets over the years and so a simple "one answer fits all" response unfortunately won't suffice -- I'll focus my comments mostly on current products.

I would say that US Mint Proof Sets and RCM Proof sets are fairly similar in terms of the finish of the included coins, they both feature frosted devices on brilliant, mirror-like fields. Current RCM sets feature mostly silver coins and a silver dollar with selective gold-plating (this wasn't always the case); the USM sets are available with either all base metal coins or with three silver coins -- neither set features any gold-plated coins.

Regarding "proof vs. proof-like": No, they are not synonymous. Proof coins are struck from specially-prepared planchets using specially-prepared/polished dies and are typically struck multiple times to ensure the greatest level of detail on the coins. As mentioned above, these coins have frosted devices (for example, the Queen's portrait) set against mirror-like surfaces and exhibit significant contrast between the two. While the finish on Proof-like coins is generally better than that on coins meant for circulation, P-L coins do not typically exhibit the level of detail or contrast of proof coins, though coins produced from "fresh" dies can sometimes come close.

Are Specimen Sets synonymous to US Uncirculated Sets? No. Current Specimen sets of the RCM feature brilliant or frosted devices on a finely lined field (sometimes called a "linen" field); the technique produces a nice contrast between the devices and fields but not nearly the contrast of proof coins. Current US Mint Uncirculated Sets are struck "on special presses using greater force than circulating coins" to produce a sharper, more detailed design on each coin; the coins feature a satin finish over the entire coin (devices and fields). [Source: US Mint website] So, the coins in these sets are produced differently and have a different look. Both Mints produce high-quality coins for their respective sets, I'll leave it to you to decide which (if either) is of higher quality.

BTW, beginning in 2011, RCM Uncirculated Sets contain "circulation quality" coins vs. previous sets which featured coins with a better quality finish.

I would recommend picking up a current Charlton's Guide (Numismatic Issues) to better understand all that had happened to these sets over the years.

Hope that helps!

Silverbug: Wouldn't the 1984 half dollar you pictured technically be a brilliant uncirculated finish instead of Proof-Like although they are similar in appearance?

RPT - If the sets you purchased on ebay were in paper envelopes and 1968 or later , then yes, they would be the brilliant uncirculated type which would be similar to the U.S. Philadelphia/Denver mint sets.

I think the term "Proof-Like" is often used by several people (including dealers)to describe the coins coming from the brilliant uncirculated sets produced from 1968 though the current date. The finish on these sets is more often better than bagged or rolled coins produced for circulation.

Having said that, I still think the proper terminology is not to refer them as PL or Proof-Like. The grading of these coins would be MS-NC (non-circulating) rather than PL.

There is very likely a fine line in determining whether a coin is a very high-grade mint state coin that escaped bag marks, etc. that was produced for circulation versus one that came from a non-circulating mint state set, however there is grading for both types with the ones produced for circulation commanding a higher catalogue value.

I'm still a bit confused.

To me the proof like (1984) posted by SliverBug looks like a US Proof.

The specimen posted by SliverBug looks like the US satin/burnished finish.

The proof (1987) posted by SilverBug looks more like a US high grade uncirculated but that may be lighting and because it's silver.

The 23 sets I bought are in paper envelopes so I guess they are brilliant uncirculated.

For the money you get quite a few less Canadian Coins in the sets compared to US coins.

canuck1us: What are you using to get the catalog/current value of the Canadian Sets? I asked on another thread if there was a way to get that info online but didn't get any replies.

When I said more coins for the money I wasn't really looking at mintage numbers but for 2011 the US set has 28 coins ($13.82 face) for $31.95 and the Canadian Set has 7 coins ($3.91 face) for $23.95.