Collecting Uncirculated Coins and Proof Coins

proofcoinsThe unique thing about coin collections is that there is a myriad of different ways to start a coin collection, and you can collect a wide variety of different coins or a small variety of very special coins depending on your interest. One of the options for coin collecting that you may want to consider if you enjoy unique coins is the art of collecting proof coins and uncirculated coins, which are coins that are not or have never been in actual use as currency in this country or any other country in the world for that matter. If the idea of proof coins and uncirculated coins seems worthwhile to you, the following information will prove useful.

There are a number of coins out there that never ended up being placed in circulation to be used for the purpose of commerce. This coin grade never had any wear or any defects meaning that these coins can be close to mint in condition. If you store these coins improperly, however, they can be worn and will no longer be in perfect condition any longer. Even if the wear is quite minor in nature, it will not allow the coin to have an “uncirculated” grade any longer.

When coins are first produced at the mint, they are placed into large canvas bags so that they can be transported. During the handling and transport phase, they can receive some small nicks and marks from rubbing and bumping along one another in the bags, and these marks are specifically known as bag marks. Bag marks tend to appear much more noticeable when the coin is larger in sized, such as a dollar or a half dollar coin. Typical bag marks will not prevent a coin from keeping the uncirculated grade. Light bag marks will not keep a coin from being considered to be uncirculated, but they may change the value that the coin receives if they are more noticeable bag marks.

Uncirculated coins are also capable of showing spotting, tarnish and discoloration while still maintaining the uncirculated grade when it comes to coin conditions. You should never clean a coin that has become tarnished as many methods of cleaning are actually capable of causing further wear on a coin, and this wear will upset the “uncirculated” grade of the coin.

There are also coins known as proof coins that were minted with the use of highly polished dies and never saw the light of day in terms of circulation. Just like with uncirculated coins, these proof coins are capable of experiencing darkening or tarnishing. Because labor and production costs went into producing proof coins beyond average coins, the mints that produce them quite often will sell them at a higher premium price, and often in much more limited numbers as well.

Photo Credits: Adamcha

Originally posted 2009-07-31 05:56:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Coin Parts and Anatomy

coinsYou are probably already aware of the fact that a coin is simply a metal disc that has been issued by your local government for public consumption as a form of currency. There are a wide variety of different types of coins, however, and not all coins are currently being accepted as being currency that is capable of being spent as a payment for transactions on a day to day basis. One of the things that you can consider when it comes to coin collecting is coin parts and anatomy, and how different coins are made from different materials and made in different ways accordingly.

So what are the main coin parts, and that is the purpose of each part of the coin?

Sides

The coin has two different sides, the head side and the tail side. Technically, the sides of the coin are known as the obverse side and the reverse side of the coin. In general, the bust image or portrait on the coin and the year of the mintage are both engraved on the coin’s obverse side. The face value for the coin is what is pressed on the other side of the coin, the reverse side.

Rim

The rim of the coin is the raised area that runs all the way along the edge of the coin. The rim of the coin can be found both on the obverse side of the coin and the reverse side of the coin as well.

Legend

The legend on the coin is what you call the inscription or any lettering that you find on the coin such as the country where the coin was issued and the face value for the coin.

Field and Relief

The field on the coin is the coin’s flat portion. The relief on the coin is the coin’s raised portion, or any design elements on the coin that are made during the process of stroking. Some examples of the relief portions of the coin include the legend of the coin, the portrait of the coin and the rim of the coin.

Edge

Contrary to the coin’s rim, which runs along the edge of the entire coin, the edge itself is the true actual edge on the coin. The edge could possibly have a number of different decorative types. For example, the edge may be plain, it could be reeded, ornamented or it could be grooved.

Portrait and Date

Finally, the portrait is the image on the obverse side of the coin, which is typically a bust of a person who is significant such as a president or another ruler. The date of the coin also appears on the obverse side of the coin, and it is responsible for indicating when the coin was actually minted.

Photo Credits: pfala

Originally posted 2009-11-08 03:32:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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