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 Replies: 10 / Views: 3,006 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Nearly 10 years ago I stopped collecting US coins aside from what I plucked from circulation. So back in the late 1990s I bought a number of proof US coins, which were mainly more common date coins such as quarters and dimes from the late 1960s-1980s. I have found that these proofs have had little thought given to them over the past 10 years and they have turned a bit for the worse in that they have taken on some toning. Nothing absolutely horrible, but there is a bit of a blue or golden hue to these coins. My question relates to what should be done. In general are impaired proofs merely junk or do they still retain some value? |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1943 Posts |
I don't think toning necessarily makes them impaired proofs. Some toned coins are attractive and bring higher prices. Is the toning on your coins unattractive?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
In general are impaired proofs merely junk or do they still retain some value?
Well, common impaired proofs do not retain much value but some of the less common ones do   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
Well, they aren't dark or anything, but they do have some bluish spotting. What is really unfortunate is that I bought a proof '62 Franklin about 10 years ago and there was a fingerprint on it that was invisible then but now is quite blue. I must say that it is interesting how some small imperfections age with time to become major nuisances.
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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
Unfortunately, the highly polished dies used in the striking process in the productions of proof coinage, would be more susceptible to the smallest of blemishes if not stored properly. Your impaired proof coins would not be so much affected by the market as long as, like biokemist6 pointed out, are the more common proofs as seen in the modern proof sets.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
vermontensium- so do you mean that common proofs would loose nearly all value if impaired but scarcer coins would retain their value?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
So all in all do you guys think that I should just spend my common impared proofs or should I just hold onto them for the heck of it despite the fact that they are forever ruined?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Can you put up some pictures? Your idea of an impaired proof, if it has some nice colours, might be my idea of something I might want to buy off you.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
latman100- well a couple are golden, but I had a 1973S quarter get a large ovoid blue spot on the obverse. To the latter I did something rather stupid: I tried to wipe it off and see what happens. Now there are just a bunch of blueish-golden streaks all over the coin. I'm sure that this is certainly not the best appearance in the eyes of many collectors.
Edited by Archraz
05/05/2009 3:05 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
A few years back when the Mint had its proof set yard sale. I bought several for gifts.
Some had toning, some had spots. I thought about sending them back, but went ahead and sent them off as gifts. The recipients were happy with them, and I guess that's what counts.
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Valued Member
United States
118 Posts |
Archraz, pictures would help.
I have a Proof Dime that has a few blue spots on the back, and I think they're pretty cool -- but maybe what you're talking about is different.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 3,006 |
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Posted 05/03/2009 7:09 pm
