cameo | Proxiblog Coin News and Views

In addition to mintage, mint marks and condition, expert hobbyists not only know the various coin designations but also study each series to see which ones increase values–some by hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Take a moment out of roll and error hunting and learn these.

Know the Designations and Abbreviations

Here are PCGS designations and abbreviations (other holdering companies may have different abbreviations):

CENT: RED (R), RED BROWN (RB), BROWN (B)

Colors describing the brilliance or patina on cents, not only Lincoln cents but the denomination. Values for “red” brilliant uncirculated cents command the highest retail prices.

JEFFERSON NICKEL: FULL STEPS (FS)

Showing a strong strike for coins grading MS60 or higher, with at least five unbroken steps visible on the reverse Monticello building.

MERCURY DIME: FULL BANDS (FB)

Showing the middle bands of the fasces are clearly separated with no breaks, scratches or marks in coins grading at least MS60.

ROOSEVELT DIME: FULL BANDS (FB)

Showing the lower and upper bands of the torch are clearly separated with no breaks, scratches or marks in coins grading at least MS60.

STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER: FULL HEAD (FH)

Showing three leaves on the head, ear hole must be present, and hairline distinct.

FRANKLIN HALF: FULL BELL LINES (FBL)

Showing the full, uninterrupted lines on the lower ones of the bell device for coins grading at least MS60.

CAMEO/DEEP CAMEO

A glossy or matte surface on devices, appearing frosty on both sides of the coin, distinguishing them from the fields. The degree of frostiness establishes the designation. If one side is deep cameo and another side, only cameo (depicted below), them the designation is cameo, as both sides must contain the requisite frostiness.

DEEP MIRROR PROOFLIKE (DMPL)/PROOFLIKE (PL)

Mirror-like reflectivity of 4-6 inches for DMPL and 2-4 inches for PL used in coins of all denomiations, not just Morgan dollars.

Research the Series for High Values

After you have learned the various designations, then go to the PCGS Coin Values site and identify which years and designations bring the highest premiums. Here are a few samples:

CENT (R, RB, B)

JEFFERSON NICKEL (FS)

MERCURY DIME (FB)

ROOSEVELT DIME (FB)

STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER (FH)

FRANKLIN HALF (FBL)

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Only about 197,000 of the 3,950,762 proof mintage bear the extra hair above the ear, known as “accented,” on the Kennedy Half Dollar, significantly increasing its value.

But the diagnostics are not easily recognizable unless you know where to look.

Moreover, value also depends on whether your particular coin has a cameo or deep cameo frosting. Combine deep cameo with accented hair, and you have a valuable coin.

Take a look at the difference in retail value between deep cameo/prooflike strikes of the accented variety, using figures from PCGS CoinFacts:

Before we share the diagnostics, please review the standards for Cameo and Deep Cameo designations. According to PCGS, Prooflike is reserved for coins grading MS60 or better with clear mirror reflectivity. Cameo is reserved for coins that show moderate frosting of devices. Deep cameo has deep and even frosting on devices. Finally, for cameo and deep cameo, both sides of the coins must have those frosting features.

The diagnostics of accented hair are not immediately obvious. The latter has two distinguishing features: more hair over the ear and a missing bottom serif on the “I” of “Liberty.”

Let’s view the extra hair:

You should be able to count four distinct hair strands, with the strand labeled “4” the telltale hair rising clearly above the others.

Here’s a depiction of the missing serif:

There is another hurdle in identifying the varieties, and that has to do with the packaging.

The thin plastic covering often diminishes the frosting on the devices. If you believe you have an accented hair variety, you should remove the coin from the set, holding the coin by the edges, because proof coins are notorious for picking up oil stains from fingers.