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packaging used for these earlier coins, it almost seems a miracle that any high quality cameos from the 1950 to 1970 era exist at all! The finest cameos, being early coins value strikes off proof dies, are quite simply "the best of the best", for they are not only struck from proof dies, the finest possible dies, but are struck from those dies when they are in their most pristine, unworn state! there could not be a more striking difference between one of these first cameo strikes, and between a coin struck much later off the die - a brilliant proof. if one did not know better, one would think that the two coins were struck from two completely different dies! in a sense, they were. more correctly, they were both coins struck from the same die, but one coin was struck before that die had experienced the wearing effect of 100''s of tons of pressure of metal on metal, and one coin was struck after that die had experienced those wearing effects. the opportunity of owning scarce, attractive coins that also are the ultimate in quality for their era has a very special appeal to collectors. it also gives these coins tremendous "upside" potential, as it very hard to pay too much for coins that offer the collector the quality u.s. proofs and mint state franklins in our inventory. the best thing about the exceptional proofs and mint state franklins we offer, is that we can sell them by simply telling the truth about their quality and rarity. we don''t need to give you a sales pitch. and we won''t. in numismatics, as in real estate, jewelry, or any other form of collectible, "quality" is a primary value and coins consideration value in one''s buying decision. doing one''s best, being the best, owning the best.....is a basic human desire. certainly, without that instinct or drive, the human race would not have progressed as it has over the past 10,000 years. and so it is the desire of most every collector to own the highest quality issue available of whatever it is they are collecting. unfortunately, in most fields of collector interest, the very finest quality specimens are priced beyond the pocketbook coins of the average collector at today''s levels. there is only so much "beach-front" property available in real estate, and there are only so many coins in numismatics that offer the collector the opportunity of owning the best. however, while the most desirable beach-front property in the u.s. is beyond the pocketbook of the average
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