United States Proof Coins Vol. II Nickel Series Collector's Reference Guide NEW

Description: BANKNOTESCOINSCOLLECTORS SUPPLIESEBAY MESSAGEThe home of collectable coins and banknotes and collector supplies. You’ll find everything you need at I.T.BanknotesUnited States Proof Coins Vol. II Nickel Series Collector's Reference Guide NEWSee our other items United States Proof Coins -- Volume II: Nickel is the second volume to be issued in what is ultimately planned to be a four volume series on United States proof coins. For the author, this series is the culmination of a life-long fascination with the Mint’s pinnacle of their output – the best examples of the coiner’s work – proof coins. With these four volumes, the author hopes to cause a renaissance in collecting proofs. This work on nickel was preceded by United States Proof Coins -- Volume IV: Gold and is to be followed by similar treatises on silver and copper. United States Proof Coins -- Volume II: Nickel catalogs the varieties for the proof coins in these nickel series: Three Cent NickelsShield NickelsLiberty NickelsBuffalo NickelsHigh resolution photographs show every variety with either a full obverse and reverse image or micro close-up photographs of the date positions for the obverse dies as well as diagnostic characteristics of the reverse dies when paired with the same obverse. It also includes an introduction to proof coinage and chapters on the why, where and how of proof coinage along with much other fascinating information. These four works will systematically identify every known Proof variety issued by the United States prior to 1916. By doing this, collectors will then be able to assemble variety sets of Proofs just as they do for large cents by Sheldon and Newcomb varieties, half dollars by Overton numbers, and the other circulation series that have been extensively studied and have had their varieties enumerated. For collectors interested in proof coins from later years, United States Proof Coins 1936-1942, Eightieth Anniversary Edition covers the next period of proof coins issued from 1936 to 1942. Finally, The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets provides coverage of later proof set years. Before this series by Dannreuther, the only full-length treatise on United States proof coins was Walter Breen’s 1977 encyclopedia that later was revised in 1989. Although that seminal book moved the scholarship light years forward, its main drawback was its lack of illustrations. In addition to bringing forward new information, this series corrects for the lack of illustrations in pior works. This volume on Proof gold has nearly 2,000 illustrations and every proof gold variety either has a full color photograph or a close-up illustration of its pertinent features. This is only possible because of digital photography and software for a work of this magnitude. Details that previously only could be verbally described is now illustrated with such clarity that words are now secondary. Noting the date’s position by where an imaginary vertical line aligns with the left base of the 1 digit aligns with a dentil below it is still noted in this work, but many date positions have obvious other differences. Micro photographs of date positions illustrate these differences and allow easy identification of varieties. After 1840, nearly all United States coins were produced from completely hubbed dies. Thus, the differences in proof and circulation strike dies after this point often are the position of the hand-punched dates and little else. Reverse dies are even harder to differentiate, as the ones from Philadelphia (the majority of the proof coins in this book) usually differ only in post-hubbing features. There is no mintmark in a different position for Philadelphia proofs to distinguish varieties, as they do not have them!In the past, collectors wanted one example of each date and proofs were the ultimate collector coins. Today, collectors want both proof and mint state examples, so proofs have lost some of their luster, as many collectors today have concentrated on rare circulation strike issues or common issues in very high grades. Admittedly, some of this focus is deserved, as there are many rare issues and there are numerous common-date coins that are very difficult to find in ultimate states of preservation. However, the collectors of the past appreciated the “Coiner’s Caviar” as proofs were the best coins produced by the United States Mint and those throughout the world. Today, nearly every mint in the world produces proof coinage – the ultimate examples of their coinage. Mints are proud of their coinage and proof coins are the ultimate examples of their output. The care in producing and preparing the dies and planchets results in nearly perfect coins. They are miniature works of art! Binding: Hardcover Edition: 1st Publication Date: May 2023 Size: 8.5x11 Pages: 374

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Location: Chantilly, Virginia

End Time: 2023-12-15T08:31:02.000Z

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