I have not been able to get clear images of coins with my digital camera, so I have been stuck using my computer's scanner. I will try and post scans of the pennies in question on Monday, and hopefully you guys will be able to use these images to let me know what type of strike I have in my set, and make any corrections.
Part of my confusion or uncertainty has to do with terminology and how people use it differently. Most regular coin dealers who have a few Canada coins for sale in the USA, sell the PL's as Proof. The "foreign coin" coin dealers in the USA, normally mark PL's as PL's, but mark Canada coins taken from double penny or double dollar sets as Proof. On
ebay, the double penny sets and double dollar sets are listed as Specimen Sets. The earliest set available on
ebay is 1967, which can be found in the double penny deluxe version with a Gold coin or a Medal. Then the next Specimen set available starts in 1971. In 1971, you have a choice of either the double penny deluxe set or the double dollar deluxe set, but both are listed as Specimen Sets. The Proof-Like sets or regular Mint Sets, which come sealed in plastic and in an envelope are available too including for dates that are not listed as having Specimen versions such as 1966. Proof sets, which look like the Proof coins we have in the USA start in 1981. Special striated Specimen pennies start showing up in 1996, these are often listed as Satin Finish Specimen Strikes. In 1996 and 1997, the PL sets contain Specimen Strikes with the new striated pattern, then return to the normal PL's version in 1998, which leads to the question rather Specimen and PL's are in fact the same because those Specimen coins were sold in the PL sets. When you say Proof started in 1971, I think you mean Specimen strikes with the mirror surface finish, which are often referred to as Specimen Proof on
ebay. I know I sound like Sheldon Cooper here, but I am trying very hard to get everything in order and marked correctly. Maybe the double dollar coins and the coins sealed in plastic are the same, and that is why I am confused. Maybe the dealers are playing a game just to get more money. Maybe they are different and are Minted differently. That is what I am trying to understand, and get the correct information.
I am using a checklist I got off of this forum to put my set together. It is a checklist of Canada Small Cents and starts in 1920 and runs to 2012. The checklist is divided into four columns marked Business Strike, Proof-Like/NBU Strike, Specimen Strike, and Proof Strike.
I have business strikes in circulated condition running from 1920 to 1936 except my 1920 is BU Red, and I am still missing 1925. I also have most coins from 1937 to 1952 in BU Red except for 1942 and 1944, which are AU. The rest of my set is uncirculated, and begins in 1953. I have 1953 Business Strike BU Red and 1953 PL, then I am missing the PL's for 1954 to 1956, but have all the PL's from 1957 to 2012.
For the purpose of my set, all Business Strikes in BU Red come from Bank Rolls, and have the dull finish different from PL's except for the steel pennies in the 2000's.
All the PL's in my set came in sealed Cellophane cut from regular
RCM sets found in envelopes for the most part until the
RCM switched to plastic. But, all are PL's except for 1996 and 1997, which are Specimen Strikes taken from the PL sets. I also have 1996 and 1997 taken from Specimen Sets in my Specimen variety set.
Next up, is the Specimen Strike group. Starting in 1996, all Specimen Strikes had the Striated pattern or what some refer to as a Satin Finish. Those minted before 1996 all have a mirror-like finish. Coins in the 1980's from Specimen sets come in coin capsules, but earlier coins had to be pulled from double penny or double dollar sets. I am at the mercy of coin dealers on rather these are actually Specimen from deluxe sets or PL's from regular Mint sets until I learn to tell the difference. This is where my question comes into play. I purchased a large lot of Canada pennies on
ebay to fill these holes cheaply. The coins where sold to me as Specimen and Proof. All the coins dating from 1981 to 2006 were marked Proof correctly. There was also a group of coins running from 1973 to 1980 that were marked Specimen, but I have no idea if this is in fact true or if these actually came from PL sets. I think they are from Specimen sets (deluxe sets) because there were also two other coin in the lot marked Specimen. One was dated 2007 and the other 2011. Both have the Specimen Striated pattern, so they are marked correctly. I just want to learn the difference to know for sure if the others are Specimen assuming that PL's and Specimen are two different Mint Strikes and not the same. In my set, I am only collecting Specimen pennies Minted after 1952. The first Specimen strike would start in 1964. My checklist goes 1964, 1965, 1967, and then 1969 to 2012. I think I have 1964, and 1973 to 2012.
The last group is the Proof coins. I have all of them including the two Large Cents 1998 & 2011, and the silver pennies. I also have all the gold plated versions. I will not be adding the 2017 one and two ounce coins because they are not the size of pennies and they would cost too much to acquire anyway.
So, that is how my collection is setup.
Thank you for your input, it helps.
Posted 02/25/2017 12:53 pm
