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PCGS,
Proof by jasonogrady —
Comments OffJanuary 6, 2009
PCGS has emailed out the inaugural issue of the PCGS eCollector for 2009, Collectors Club members should find it in their in-boxes. This gem is from Vol. 2 No. 14:
Question: What does “cameo” mean, as in cameo Proof? Where are these listed? Is a cameo Proof better than a non-cameo Proof? I am not able to put my finger on much information. Can you help?
Answer: The term cameo with regard to Proofs refers to a Proof coin on which the main design, most notably the portrait or central figure, has a frosted or lustrous finish, while the fields or flat areas are deeply mirrorlike. Just about all of the copper, nickel, silver, and gold Proof coins made at the Philadelphia Mint from the early days, through the time of general availability of Proofs to the public (1858), down to 1902, are cameo Proofs. In 1902-3, someone at the Mint began polishing the deep recesses in the Proof dies, and Miss Liberty on some Proofs of 1902, most all of 1903, and some of later dates have “polished” rather than cameo portraits. Most copper Proofs 1905-1909 (Indian), nickel Proofs 1905-1912), silver Proofs 1905-1915, and Liberty Head gold Proofs 1905-1907 revert to the cameo style. It was discovered that adding the word cameo to a description of, for example, a Proof half dollar of the 1890s, would increase its marketability, never mind that almost all Proofs are normally this way. One thing led to another, and today cameo is a popular adjective, including on some of the more recent holders. Fast forward to 1950, when Proof coins were struck for collectors, after a hiatus since 1942. From 1950 onward, Proof die preparation was apt to be erratic, as demand was tremendous and vast quantities of Proofs were struck. Thus, rather than being prepared by a handful of specialists, Proof dies were processed by more employees at the Mint. Some employees polished the interior of the portrait and others left well enough alone (an unpolished die = a lustrous or cameo portrait in most instances). Thus, among Proofs from 1950 onward there are some notable differences, “polished” vs. “cameo” portraits on some series, such as Franklin half dollars 1950-1963. Such are quite popular to collect and study. Among such later coins the addition of “cameo” to a description has some real meaning.
–Q. David Bowers, Bowers and Merena Galleries
PCGS has added some new and powerful features in their online price guide.
New features, including online streaming video commentary from Collectors Universe President and Co-Founder David Hall have been added to the Professional Coin Grading Service’s authoritative Rare Coin Price Guide at www.PCGS.com/prices. All of the information is available free to the public.
The price guide includes the PCGS3000™ Coin Market Summary that tracks the values of over 3,000 different PCGS-certified coins in a wide range of grades. The new Price Changes feature lets collectors and dealers track the top ten “gainers and losers” for the previous day, as well as the previous two weeks, three months and the past year. There also are market values for bullion coins, such as American Eagles.
Another new feature links Price Guide pages to their counterparts on Collectors Corner, PCGS’ secure, online coin marketplace. For example, if a user is looking up prices for Morgan Dollars, they can then click a link at the top of the page that will take them straight to the up-to-the-minute listing of Morgan Dollars on Collectors Corner. Another link will take users directly to the PCGS Set RegistrySM.
The expanded PCGS Price Guide offers collectors, dealers and the genera public an unprecedented amount of online information about current marketplace values.
Source: CoinNews.net
I just got this in an email. It looks like the grading service gives us another reason to go elsewhere. Notice how they don’t say anything about not charging for bodybags and/or slabbing “no grade” coins? Time to vote with our wallets.
Effective October 1st PCGS will no longer offer the Regrade with Comment and Crossover with Comment services. We will also no longer provide the PCGS grade on crossovers that do not cross. For further information call PCGS Customer Service at 800-447-8848.
I received this email from PCGS today:
New PCGS Bulk Submission Policies Effective July 1, 2008
BULK SUBMISSIONS
Effective July 1, 2008, only PCGS Authorized Dealers may submit coins under the Bulk Submissions program. Collectors Club members who wish to submit coins under the Bulk Submissions program must either become a PCGS Authorized Dealer or submit coins through a PCGS Authorized Dealer.
SPECIAL INSERTS
Effective July 1, 2008, special inserts (First Strike, 50 States Flags, Signature Series, Satin Finish, etc.) will be available only through the Bulk Submissions program and will not be available under any other service level.
These changes are being made to speed up and streamline processing and turnaround times at PCGS. Any bulk submissions received by PCGS or postmarked before July 1 will be processed under the old Bulk Submission program rules.
