Specimen, Proof And Unc

also noticed the proof coins have sharper edges than the circulation strikes I believe

If anyone was interested, here was something I found on calgarycoin about 50 cent pieces which I assume are the same for the nickel dollars.

Mint state (abbreviated MS) which are coins struck for issue through the banks and have average lustre and surface qualities. In most cases MS coins have little value unless the highest range of the MS coins, and those are seldom seen. We don't list most dates in MS because they are not of high enough value to justify the time and trouble to list and/or ship them.

Proof-like (abbreviated PL) are standard mint sets coins, usually from the pliofilm packaged sets, red double penny sets, and later the blue book set, but in later dates where were a variety of other types of sets they can come from. PL coins coins have a much higher lustre than MS coins, mostly because they are struck from dies in their newest die state. They also have very minimal marks (the average PL is a PL-64) as they did not go through as many of the mint handling processes are MS coins do, but they are not perfect coins and one should not expect them to be absolutely mark free.

Specimen (abbreviated SP or SPEC) which were in the black leather double dollar sets from 1971 to 1980, and for later dates in various types sets. Like PL coins they are struck from dies in their freshest die state but differ in being double struck to give them a higher lustre and sharper images, and they do not go through any mint handling processes before going into the sets so are a nearly mark free. The rims tend and edges tend to be a little sharper although this is not obvious on a casual inspection. When we list a coin as being a specimen, it is because we personally took it from a specimen set before listing it here.

Proof (abbreviated PR) coins are very nice coins found mostly issued in the double dollar black leather boxed proof sets starting in 1981, although some specialty coins did come other ways. The coins are clearly differing than the other striking qualities being double struck from specially prepared dies so they have mirror fields and frosted images (and ultra cameo effect) and are specially handled so they to into the sets in near perfect condition as possible.