question about "proof" coins

[Dieselbhoy]

iv no idea what this term means, can someone explain it in simple terms for me

 

for example on ebay someone is selling a royal mint proof 50p for £6, but im gonna be 100% honest,it just looks like a normal 50p piece i have on my firplace

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Royal-Mint-Proof-50P-Fifty-Pence-Coin-Seated-Britannia/111046582562?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28111%26meid%3D38d478719dba41a7af8b84b191658263%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11472%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381059988649&rt=nc

 

there is also a £1 going for £7 but no where on the coin can i see the word proof again it looks just like a normal £1 coin

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Royal-Mint-Proof-1-One-Pound-Coin-Shields-of-Royal-Arms/110979594894?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28111%26meid%3D85a9f16be2154da6b7345375518aca17%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11472%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381059988649&rt=nc

[Danny-boy]

Google says......

http://lynncoins.com/proofcoin_article.htm

[HelpingHands]

Yes Diesel, many people list coins on eBay as proof when they are not.

[motorbikez]

http://thesilverforum.com/topic/445-coin-definitions-as-per-perth-mint-others/

[Danny-boy]

http://thesilverforum.com/topic/445-coin-definitions-as-per-perth-mint-others/

I looked for that but couldn't find it. Question answered perfectly.

[Dieselbhoy]

Yes Diesel, many people list coins on eBay as proof when they are not.

ah right,cheers m8 id have been none the wiser

 

http://thesilverforum.com/topic/445-coin-definitions-as-per-perth-mint-others/

 

 

I looked for that but couldn't find it. Question answered perfectly.

cheers guys a wee bit more knowledgable now much appreciated

[daz]

As HH said be very careful on ebay as people describe lots of coins as proof when they are not.

A lot of people seem to describe any shiny coin as proof.

For example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SILVER-PROOF-BRITANNIA-2-COIN-1OZ-958-FINE-SILVER-FDC-CONDITION-COA-/331391505391?pt=Coins_BritishProofs_RL&hash=item4d287913ef

Even the certificate says it has a "semi proof finish" which could trick a lot of people but this actually means nothing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-1-oz-Silver-999-Britannia-feat-Stonehenge-Coloured-Proof-Limited-/161467188389?pt=Coins_BritishProofs_RL&hash=item259831c4a5

This is also a bog standard bullion coin that has been coloured, the 2014 proof britannia is a completely different design .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-Australian-WedgeTailed-Eagle-PCGS-Gem-BU-1oz-999-Silver-Bullion-Proof-Coin-/221610801703?pt=UK_Coins_Bullion_Bars_SM&hash=item3399087a27

Even this one in the title he calls it "silver bullion proof coin" when even the pcgs label says it BU.

Basically with a little research its easy to spot the difference even for beginners like us . Within a few weeks you like me will be ripping your hair out when you see some of the descriptions of coins on ebay

[Dieselbhoy]

As HH said be very careful on ebay as people describe lots of coins as proof when they are not.

A lot of people seem to describe any shiny coin as proof.

For example

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SILVER-PROOF-BRITANNIA-2-COIN-1OZ-958-FINE-SILVER-FDC-CONDITION-COA-/331391505391?pt=Coins_BritishProofs_RL&hash=item4d287913ef

Even the certificate says it has a "semi proof finish" which could trick a lot of people but this actually means nothing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-1-oz-Silver-999-Britannia-feat-Stonehenge-Coloured-Proof-Limited-/161467188389?pt=Coins_BritishProofs_RL&hash=item259831c4a5

This is also a bog standard bullion coin that has been coloured, the 2014 proof britannia is a completely different design .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2014-Australian-WedgeTailed-Eagle-PCGS-Gem-BU-1oz-999-Silver-Bullion-Proof-Coin-/221610801703?pt=UK_Coins_Bullion_Bars_SM&hash=item3399087a27

Even this one in the title he calls it "silver bullion proof coin" when even the pcgs label says it BU.

Basically with a little research its easy to spot the difference even for beginners like us . Within a few weeks you like me will be ripping your hair out when you see some of the descriptions of coins on ebay

so basically proof coins are very shiny???

[Danny-boy]

so basically proof coins are very shiny???

Have you properly read any of the responses people have given you?

[daz]

so basically proof coins are very shiny???

No but that's what a lot of ebay sellers seem to think.

Usually on proofs the background has got a mirror finish and the raised design is frosted and struck to a very high quality so you can really make out every detail .

But to confuse the matter this is not always the case , you also get reverse proofs where the background is frosted and the design is mirror finish , and all frosted proofs.

Remember proof is not describing the condition of the coin it is how it is minted .

These one pence coins are not proof

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARIOUS-PROOF-UNCIRCULATED-ONE-PENCE-1p-COINS-1971-TO-1993-YOUR-CHOICE-/311178423600?pt=UK_Coins_BritishDecimal_RL&var=&hash=item4873aded30

These ones are , look at how the queens head is a conpletely different finish to the background and the level if detail is much greater

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-proof-one-pence-/181574565301?pt=Coins_BritishProofs_RL&hash=item2a46affdb5

This is not a proof 10p

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-queen-elizabeth-11-decimal-10p-proof-a-u-/261623343071?pt=UK_Coins_BritishMilled_RL&hash=item3ce9f767df

Whereas this one is

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-PROOF-10P-PIECE-SMALLER-TYPE-FROM-A-MINT-SET-/170877504063?pt=UK_Coins_BritishDecimal_RL&hash=item27c917ca3f