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Posted 08/04/2015 1:34 pm
Hi onecentpenny! Excellent questions, some of which as a Canadian collector I have as well. I was fortunate to be gifted a collection that included circulated coinage, Uncirculated Sets ( PL), Presrige Sets (SP) and the later Proof Sets (PR). Through the process of comparing and attempting to evaluate them all, I began a fairly extensive learning journey in trying to understand what exactly was the difference.....beyond the obvious.
I bought Charlton Volume One (Nuministic Issues 2015) and Volume Two (Collector *Sets* and Maple Leaf Issues) which I found to be quite helpful for the most part. Volume Two lists what sort of RCM sets were produced during what years. I get the impression from ebay that some sellers widely use the moniker "PL" if the coin came from any type of mint set because it might appear to be somehow more desirable. And I can't help but notice entire mint sets selling for lower prices than individual coins from the same broken up sets which leaves me to wonder why that is.
In partial answer to your question 1)
Specifically in reference to the 1c, I noticed the references to various finishes to be inconsistent. For example, according to Charlton, the Prestige Sets (1971 to 1980) are indicated to be SP - Brilliant relief on Brilliant Background -- which appears accurate in description (outside of the fact that the definition was later substantially changed). However Uncirculated Sets beginning in 1968 are indicated to be Brilliant Uncirculated MS-65-NC "brilliant relief on brilliant background" (page 345) which is not always true especially for the early years because taking a quick glance, I notice 1969 and 1971 1c are frosted. Prior to 1968 the Uncirculated Sets were indeed indicated to be PL finish and that would have been when they contained silver coinage, except for the 1c and 5c of course.
Therefore the conclusion that I have reached is there's no consistency of the finishes within those early Uncirculated Sets and the term PL has became more or less a catch-all moniker to resolve the ambiguity.
In the those years up to 1980, I am unable to detect any difference in appearance between SP and PL (unfrosted) or red MS (unfrosted) 1c and I'd be very interested in what others have to say as well. I also cannot distinguish between frosted PL and frosted MS, rims or otherwise. It appears as if copper is not as prove to bag marks in the way that other softer metal might be.
I know there are many avid 1c collectors who contribute to this forum who will be anxious to share their greater knowledge!
I bought Charlton Volume One (Nuministic Issues 2015) and Volume Two (Collector *Sets* and Maple Leaf Issues) which I found to be quite helpful for the most part. Volume Two lists what sort of RCM sets were produced during what years. I get the impression from ebay that some sellers widely use the moniker "PL" if the coin came from any type of mint set because it might appear to be somehow more desirable. And I can't help but notice entire mint sets selling for lower prices than individual coins from the same broken up sets which leaves me to wonder why that is.
In partial answer to your question 1)
Specifically in reference to the 1c, I noticed the references to various finishes to be inconsistent. For example, according to Charlton, the Prestige Sets (1971 to 1980) are indicated to be SP - Brilliant relief on Brilliant Background -- which appears accurate in description (outside of the fact that the definition was later substantially changed). However Uncirculated Sets beginning in 1968 are indicated to be Brilliant Uncirculated MS-65-NC "brilliant relief on brilliant background" (page 345) which is not always true especially for the early years because taking a quick glance, I notice 1969 and 1971 1c are frosted. Prior to 1968 the Uncirculated Sets were indeed indicated to be PL finish and that would have been when they contained silver coinage, except for the 1c and 5c of course.
Therefore the conclusion that I have reached is there's no consistency of the finishes within those early Uncirculated Sets and the term PL has became more or less a catch-all moniker to resolve the ambiguity.
In the those years up to 1980, I am unable to detect any difference in appearance between SP and PL (unfrosted) or red MS (unfrosted) 1c and I'd be very interested in what others have to say as well. I also cannot distinguish between frosted PL and frosted MS, rims or otherwise. It appears as if copper is not as prove to bag marks in the way that other softer metal might be.
I know there are many avid 1c collectors who contribute to this forum who will be anxious to share their greater knowledge!
