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发表于 2014-9-4 04:19:14
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同意周兄的理解。
一下是一段对SP (specimen), PL (proof-like)以及 PF/PR (Proof) 比较全面的解释。改天哪个翻译水品高的兄弟姐妹们给翻一下。
STRIKING STYLE.
The grade refers to the amount of wear, but there are also different striking styles or finishes, which are a different thing.
MINT STATE sometimes abbreviated as MS, refers to coins intended to be issued through the banks for normal circulation, which went through all of the normal mint handling process that leave "bag marks" on the coins and so even right out of original rolls they were usually far from perfect coins with the average grade in an original roll from the 1960's and earlier MS-60 to MS-63. Finding MS-64 or better coins can be difficult.
PROOF-LIKE sometimes abbreviated as PL, is an odd category. These are coins minted specifically to be issued in official mint sets. The mint never claimed they were anything other than choice MS coins, but are very early strikes from fresh dies and were put side to go into the sets before going through the entire mint handling process, meaning they tend have have higher lustre and far fewer bag marks than MS coins. However they are not perfect mark-free coins and average PL-64 to PL-65 in the sets. Experienced collector or dealer will know one when they see one. The term Proof-like was invented by dealers to differentiate these from normal MS coins, for reasons I will discuss below. Proof-like sets were first sold to the public in 1954, although single PL coins earlier than 1954 do exist.
Specimen which is sometime abbreviated as SPEC or just SP. Specimen coins were also minted for special mint sets. The differ from PL coins because the dies are specially finished to give the coins either a higher lustre or sometimes a specific matte finish, and the coins are double struck to give sharper images, normally higher sharper rims, and design meet the fields at a sharper angle. Specimens have been made since the beginning of Canadian coinage, with early sets were used for official government presentations, although in 1908, 1937 and 1967 sets were made for sale to collectors. Beginning in 1971 specimen sets made to sell to collectors became a standard part of the mints product line, and most such sets are very common today. Like proof coins, specimen coins were never intended to circulate so did not go through any of the standard mint handling systems that put bag marks on MS coins. Most specimen coins are relatively mark free and start off in the SP-66 to SP-68 range.
PROOF which is sometimes abbreviated as PR. Proof coins are also struck only for special mint sets. Canadian Proof coins are struck on selected blanks from dies with carefully polished fields, and frosted designs, then double struck to give them amazing sharpness. Each coin is carefully handled and packaged right off the die to keep them virtually mark free. The frosted images and lettering against the mirror like background (an ultra-cameo effect) are very attractive and because of the special handing are usually in Proof-66 to Proof 68, although coins right up to Proof-70 occur. The earliest Canadian proof coins were struck in 1973 for the Montreal Olympics, but production of normal denominations in proof begins in 1981. Earlier Canadian coins are sometimes seen with the cameo affect, and some can look almost like proof coins, but are not. Not all world proof coins, including US coin, have frosting but do share the mirror like fields.
It is important to understand these distinctions, because for many dates there is more than one striking style and they are not priced the same. Where Pl's, Specimens or Proofs from sets exist in large numbers (generally true for PL after 1953, Specimen after 1970 and most Canadian Proof coins), while these are usually the nicest looking coins, they generally do not command the prices of the upper end MS coins (generally MS-64 or higher). An example the 1967 Canadian dollar, which can easily be found in PL-65 from a proof-like set, or Specimen-65 or better from one of the black boxed specimen sets, for not much more than the value of the silver in them. A 1967 dollar in MS-65 from a bank roll is very difficult to find and might sell in the $500 range. Understand how this works is important. We occasionally see people sell PL and Specimen coins claiming they are high end MS coins, and asking prices far beyond the coins value. Such people are either totally inexperienced, or are committing fraud.
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