Why So Many Silver Australia Silver Coins Listed As Proof When They Are Not

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 2,229
4504 Valued Member United States 379 Posts	Posted 09/20/2017 10:32 am Hi all I started to collect year 2000 Australia dragon lunar series coins and have a few. one that I am missing is the 2000 Australia $1 silver coin. It must be a proof coin. yet I see all over ebay and even an auction house selling MS coins as proof. It is easy to determine whether they are proof or not because the proof coins have a privy "P" at the very bottom (6 o'clock position), while others, determining on the coin, have the "P" in the 3 o'clock position. I messaged one guy who was advertising his normal or MS at best coin as a proof coin, he replied to thank me and changed his listing and said that when he bought it he was told it was a proof coin. the thing is that this is a common error. I do not believe the sellers are dishonest, just mistaken. or am I? please be the judge... here are a few proof silver dragon coin... note the "P" at the bottom... http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000P-Drago...AOSwBLlU85NL http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Austra...AOSwKIpWDCME and here are a few that are not proof but advertised as such... I whittled a few down but I tire of correcting errors in other people's listings... maybe I am wrong? keep in mind that some are from dealers... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Australia-1...AOSwkGVZtWpV here is a 2 ounce coin SOLD AT AUCTION as a proof coin, when it does not appear to be one... the thing that baffles me is that it appears to be a reverse coin, and all the reverse coins I have ever seen WERE reverse PROOFS. ? http://www.icollector.com/2000-Aust...in_i22486771 here is a 1/2 oz listed as a reverse proof when it does not appear to be a proof coin, it does look like a reverse tho. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Australia-2...AOSwmtJXVlLq and here is a REAL proof 1/2 oz... http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Austra...AOSwJQdW~wBB this also seems to be an problem with the next issue of the Australia dragons, made in 2012. I do not believe these are dishonest sellers, just mistaken. The proof coins, as bought new, have their own distinctive box which clearly identifies the coins as proof. Anybody got any ideas on why this is happening with these coins? Or am I the one who is wrong? Mike Edited by 4504 09/20/2017 10:58 am Report this Post to the Staff

trout1105 Pillar of the Community Australia 7096 Posts	Posted 09/20/2017 10:54 am Quote: Anybody got any ideas on why this is happening with these coins? Or am I the one who is wrong? Mike The "P" on the coin is a "Mintmark" that is used by the Perth Mint, It has nothing whatsoever to do with if the coin is a Proof or not Report this Post to the Staff
4504 Valued Member United States 379 Posts	Posted 09/20/2017 11:04 am Thanks for the information Trout, do you have any idea why some coins with the same year/denominations/mint have the "P" and some don't? For example, here is one that is advertised as a 2000 proof silver kilo with the "P" http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-2000-L...AOSwBLlU-JX5 and another 2000 silver kilo dragon that is not advertised as a proof and is minus the "P" http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-AUSTRA...BeR9it6eFltQ One thing I have noticed that the coins without the "P" sell for way less than the ones with the "P" and vice-versa. In any case, I bow to your expertise... thanks for clearing it up... mike Edited by 4504 09/20/2017 11:47 am Report this Post to the Staff
4504 Valued Member United States 379 Posts	Posted 09/20/2017 12:29 pm I think I got it figured out. The proof coins have the "P" on them (for the Perth mintmark), while the MS ones do not... I think. I was mistakenly thinking that the "P" meant proof. Thanks for the reply... mike Report this Post to the Staff
usdollar75 New Member 35 Posts	Posted 09/20/2017 2:41 pm Report this Post to the Staff
notcb New Member Australia 42 Posts	Posted 09/21/2017 01:27 am Mike, You are quite correct - I notice that all examples you refer to that were in error, are sellers from USA. Ignorance on their behalf! Essentially with all the Perth Mint lunar coins (both series 1 and 2 ) they issue both a bullion (mint) and proof version of each coin. They also release a coloured proof coin version and through the Australian Post office, a coloured Bullion (mint) version. This makes 4 different coins each year. (The exception being 2017 where they have not produced a coloured proof 1/2 oz coin.) The bullion and proof coins can all be identified by the fact that the queen's head will always be frosted in the proof version, whereas the bullion version has a frosted circle further out from the queen's silhouette. Happy collecting! Peter (notcb) Report this Post to the Staff
mrcruise Pillar of the Community Australia 552 Posts	Posted 09/22/2017 01:23 am Many of Perth Mint's bullion coins feature what is known as a reverse frosted finish, giving them a proof-like appearance which can be mistaken for a proof coin The Perth Mint has aimed high with their bullion series so they are superior to other bullion issues throughout the world and hence the respect collectors have for their bullion products Edited by mrcruise 09/22/2017 01:23 am Report this Post to the Staff
4504 Valued Member United States 379 Posts	Posted 09/22/2017 10:16 am thanks to all for the replies, especially notcb... he really knows his stuff about these Australia lunar coins! Report this Post to the Staff
ryurazu Pillar of the Community Australia 1333 Posts	Posted 06/13/2018 9:22 pm Actually with the lunar 2000 dragon coin 1 dollar silver coins there is 2 types, one which is the standard proof and the other possibly slight more rarer frosted proof. I know this, because looked into, but can't remember the reference. The p mint mark has nothing to do with whether something is proof or not it is just where it was made p=( Perth Mint) no mint mark probably means some other mint (however do be aware of fakes!). Report this Post to the Staff
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