What is a cameo finish?

Of course, the finish on that silver dollar was no
different than any other modern commemorative silver dollar.

Phil is right, the finish on modern commems has been "matte' since
1994. There have also been some regular issue mattes, notably the
5c coins in the 1994 and 1997 Coinage and Currency sets and the
$1 coin in the 2001 C&C.

The "satin" finish on 2005 Mint Sets are also indistinguishable from
some of the matte coins.

The grading services react in different ways to this dilemma. ICG
notes the difference in $1 sacajaweas on the slab. PCGS calls
the 2005 coins "satin finish" and identifies the '94,'97 nickels and
'98 Kennedy 50c as "special mint set." NGC routinely identifies
the satin coins and the special coins as "SMS." NGC also gives
cameo designations based on appearance, not proof/non-proof
status, to any coin. There are "cameo" business strikes in almost
all the series so designated by NGC based on their cameo contrast,
independent of the method of manufacture.

Regards,
Tom

Well all commems are at least double-struck ... often several times.
Any collector style coin is at least double struck.

I was at the Franklin Mint in 1999 and they were striking some Life of
Christ silver medals. They were striking them 4 times each....which is
a feature that was not advertised.

Its probably easier for the US Mint to just use proof dies then blast
them for the matte UNC finish. These modern commems definitly DO NOT
have the same finish as the UNC coins in the annual coin sets. NO
DOUBTS in my mind. Visual inspections shows that the UNC commems are
minted with much more care than standard UNC sets. The surfaces are
nice a frosty whereas the usual UNC coins sets have a shiney surface.


Phil DeMayo wrote:
Michael wrote:

The three requirments below would apply to the unc versions of modern
commems.

Would they?

Do they receive multiple strikes?

Are they struck from specially prepared polished planchets like proofs?

I am under the impression that they prepare the dies the same
then sand blast them with fine granuals to give them the matte finish.
So technically it costs more to make the UNC versions that the proofs.

How so?

Proof dies are also sandblasted to achieve the cameo finish. The fields
are highly polished, the dies chromium plated to extend die life and
each die is used to strike a limited number of coins before being
retired or refinished.

Do you have any proof that all of the above (and more) is done with the
unc dies. If not, how can they "technically" cost more than proof dies?

The UNC Marines dollars is no doubt a matte proof.

Well, that 's up for debate.

The argument started in 1998 when the Mint came out with the Kennedy
Collectors Set which contained an unc RFK commemorative dollar and a
Matte Silver Kennedy Half Dollar.

Packaged side by side it was obvious to most that both coins had the
same finish and some dealers began hyping the unc RFK commem as being a
matte proof. Of course, the finish on that silver dollar was no
different than any other modern commemorative silver dollar.

You can call it anything you want (and possibly be wrong)....but the
Mint simply refers to them as "uncirculated".....not matte proof.

Now another possibility would be for the dies not to be prepared as
well but say 90% as good then the flaws are covered by the
sandblasting.


Mike Marotta wrote:
Michael wrote:
Aren't Matte Proofs used all the time here? The UNC versions of all
Commems are essentially Matte Proofs.

No. By definition, a proof coin must be (MUST be)
1. struck multiple times.

2. from specially prepared dies

3. on specially prepared planchets.

I stand corrected on the cost. While I firmly believe modern UNC
commes are matte proofs...it probably does cost more for the diemakers
to mask out the mirror surface with masking tape to allow for
sandblasting of the frosted areas. This I have seen in person.


Phil DeMayo wrote:

Proof dies are also sandblasted to achieve the cameo finish. The fields
are highly polished, the dies chromium plated to extend die life and
each die is used to strike a limited number of coins before being
retired or refinished.

I have a website with some coins with a gold plated cameo on each piece
in the collection. see
http://www.proud-collector.com/8/3/collection.aspx for examples.


--------------------------------
http://www.proud-collector.com/


Michael wrote:
Having never really collected certified coins, I would like to know
what is meant by the term cameo when used in the grading of both proof
and mint state coins?