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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,803 |
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
I have an 1887 shilling, a 1887 double Florin and an 1887 florin all have a frosted cameo appearance . You can really see it on the shilling . Did the circulated coins have a frosted two toned appearance or do I have proofs?   Edited by westy00
12/25/2021 2:21 pm
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Valued Member
 Canada
340 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Looks like a circulated proof known as an impaired proof. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
Second coin is a business strike .
Take some better pictures of the shilling
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
Florin is also a business strike. Nice coin !
The shilling is certainly Prooflike , not so sure it is a true
Proof .
Shillings and 6 pence coins were struck with leftover
Proof dies and can result in some very nice Business
Strike coins .
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
I guess it doesn't matter really .
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
Proof coins are struck at least twice with special dies and have a polished mirror surface in the fields. Sometimes they have cameo (Frosted) devices and details.   Not the greatest photo - but notice the mirror surfaces of the field.  Another terrible photo showing at least the cameoing of surfaces. Basic uncirculated circulation coins do not have the mirror surfaces or polishing, you will see the fields are unworn but dull and the details are not distinguished from the rest of the coin.   Basic UNC NZ crown coin (Despite brown staining on reverse). Often basic UNC coins can also be subject to bad striking and some areas may appear flat, this is very true of common and high mintage coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
Westy00 - Your coins
1887 Shilling - definitely a proof - very nice. Your second photos of it, you will notice the frosted cameo finish on the Queen - that is the clear sign of a proof coin!
That cameo finish is missing on the other coins, as they were designed to be used in commerce rather than as a collectors piece.
1887 Halfcrown - Lovely coin, but not proof, a standard UNC coin in very nice shape (Many of these were souvenrired by people back then and survive today).
1887 Double Florin - Looking at it, I suspect this is a standard circulation coin too. But could be wrong as it is mirrorlike - business strike!
Surprisingly many 1887 Proof coins often survive in VF to AU condition and have heavy toning due to the corrosive fabric and iron metal in the cases, along with 130 years of stale air. So your shilling is very nice and so are your other coins, they are way better than average.
1887 was the first proof set since 1853 and 1839 and the first easy to find one. You could get it either as the Crown down to Maundy Penny (None of the bronze was proofed as 1997 dated Bronze still used the 1860 bun head portrait).
The deluxe version was the silver coins (Crown, Double Florin, Halfcrown, Florin, Shilling, 6d, 3d and Maundy set) but also included the four gold coins (£5, £2, Sovereign and half).
Edited by Princetane
12/25/2021 9:00 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
Great explanation thankyou . I suspected the shilling to be proof as I compare the field to coins I have that are modern proofs with beautiful mirror finished fields . Interesting as well that in this collection I purchased the three mentioned are all 1887 and in very nice condition. Makes me wonder if the collector had a set of these 1887 coins from a set or case at one time .
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
So I have a shilling , 3 pence , Florin , D Florin and 2 x 1/2 crown all 1887 .
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
Found this "Victoria Proof shilling 1887. Jubilee Head. S-3926. Very scarce: only 1,084 minted" is that right?
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Valued Member
Canada
340 Posts |
Almost all the letters on the Obverse are doubled . Perhaps from the need of a deeper cameo ?
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Pillar of the Community
4628 Posts |
Probably as the coins were struck at least twice and up to 4 times or more to achieve that high level of detail. It was all machines by then, so should not be much slippage unless the coin blank was use.
Either way, those coins are just outstanding, that shilling is just unbelievable. I thought my AU one was nice, but that is just ... wow..
Westy - you are really showing us some OUTSTANDING coins!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
694 Posts |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,803 |
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Posted 12/25/2021 2:36 pm
