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uthminsta wrote:

RedRockGirl wrote:how do you know if you find a proof?

Okay, let's see... Coins from San Fransisco (S-mint) are often proofs. But not all S coins are proofs, AND not all proofs have an S mintmark. Clear as mud? Okay. Let's proceed.

From the original post in this thread: "while the S mint mark generally means a proof strike, the following (recent) S-mint coins were minted for general circulation, and are most likely NOT proofs: 1968-1974 cents, 1968-1970 nickels, 1979-1981 dollars."

CENTS: SF made circulation strike Lincoln cents with an S until 1955, then again from 1968-74. Proof strikes were plain from 1950-64, then started including the S in 1968. But anything dated 1975 or later with an S is most certainly a proof, because SF didn't make circulation strikes any more.

NICKELS: SF made circulation strike Jefferson S nickels until 1954, then again from 1968-70. Proof strikes were plain from 1938-64 then started including the S in 1968. But anything dated 1971 or later with an S is most certainly a proof; same reasoning as before.

DIMES: SF made circulation strike Roosevelt S dimes until 1955. Proof strikes were plain from 1950-64 then started including the S in 1968. So anything dated 1968 or later with an S is most certainly a proof.

QUARTERS: Same basic idea. Circulation strike S until 1954. Proofs plain until 1964. S were proof-only starting 1968.

HALVES: For Kennedy, 1964 proof was plain. 1968 and following proof had S. Anything with an S is a proof.

DOLLARS: for Susan B Anthony dollars, S-mint coins were issued for both proof and circulation from 1979-81. Any Sacagawea or Presidential dollar with an S is a proof.

Any better? Another answer is this: if it's got a mirror-like finish, you should take note, as it might be a proof.

hobo finds wrote:How do you think these proofs get out there? Someone desperate, opening up a proof set selling the silver and spending the clad? I worked at a hotel and one of those gold / silver buyers were in house buying for about a week, they told us not to go into the meeting room at al,l unless we were called to get them something. When they moved out there were lots of broken mint sets laying around. We searched for coins found none.