Proof and DMPL Morgan Dollars
Sunday May 24, 2009
Morgan Dollars are extremely popular coins, and widely regarded as one of the U.S.A.'s most beautiful types. Contributing to the Morgan Dollar's popularity is the fact that uncirculated and lightly circulated specimens are readily available at affordable prices for most years. Another nice plus for Morgan Dollar collectors is the existence of a Prooflike appearance on many coins from certain dates and mints, especially the earlier coins in the series.
The Prooflike appearance of certain Morgan Dollars which were struck for circulation is the result of how some of the the Morgan Dollar coin dies were prepared at the time. The first few thousand coins struck from a new pair of these dies had mirror-like fields and frosted devices which got progressively less Prooflike as striking continued.
Collectors have developed terms such as Deep Mirror Proof-Like (DMPL, sometimes pronounced "dimple,") Prooflike (PL,) and Semi-Prooflike (SPL) to describe various states of Prooflike Morgan Dollars. But Prooflike Morgan Dollars, as beautiful as they are, are definitely not Proofs. There are clear-cut differences between the way business strike Morgan Dollars were made, and the way Proof Morgans were made, and I show you how to tell them apart in my article about the differences between DMPL and Proof Morgan Dollars.
Another important skill to have is the ability to judge the different classes of Prooflike Morgan Dollars. In other words, what separates a DMPL from a PL, and a PL from an SPL? The answer is the degree of reflectivity the coin possesses. I explain how these degrees are told apart, and provide some simple methods for testing your own Morgan Dollars in the article about how to tell the difference between DMPL, Prooflike, and Semi-Prooflike Morgans.
The Prooflike appearance of certain Morgan Dollars which were struck for circulation is the result of how some of the the Morgan Dollar coin dies were prepared at the time. The first few thousand coins struck from a new pair of these dies had mirror-like fields and frosted devices which got progressively less Prooflike as striking continued.
Collectors have developed terms such as Deep Mirror Proof-Like (DMPL, sometimes pronounced "dimple,") Prooflike (PL,) and Semi-Prooflike (SPL) to describe various states of Prooflike Morgan Dollars. But Prooflike Morgan Dollars, as beautiful as they are, are definitely not Proofs. There are clear-cut differences between the way business strike Morgan Dollars were made, and the way Proof Morgans were made, and I show you how to tell them apart in my article about the differences between DMPL and Proof Morgan Dollars.
Another important skill to have is the ability to judge the different classes of Prooflike Morgan Dollars. In other words, what separates a DMPL from a PL, and a PL from an SPL? The answer is the degree of reflectivity the coin possesses. I explain how these degrees are told apart, and provide some simple methods for testing your own Morgan Dollars in the article about how to tell the difference between DMPL, Prooflike, and Semi-Prooflike Morgans.
Comments
Okay! This is where we cross the line between the common man/woman, and the coin experts. Altho i’ve educated my self with your help, useing articles you have along these lines. It can get very confusing for novice collectors. A person has to be somewhat educated into the coin field. To know what’s needed to differentiate between a business strike & a proof coin. It gets easier as a person studies. The thing is, with out putting more confusion into the pot.
Where do blaze white, or similar tpye morgans fit in this catagory? If there in high mint state condition. Or do they not fit at all?
coiny