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involved "acid-dipping" the dies before they were polished. The solution used during the 1950 to 1970 period, a bath consisting of 5% nitric acid/95% water, was used to create an acid-etched appearance on the die. When the die was subsequently valueofcoin polished and buffed, the recessed portions of the die, the devices, retained their acid-etched cameo. The very first strikes off one of these new dies would valueofcoin possess a gorgeous, intense cameo effect very similar in quality to the proofs minted today. The raised portions of these early strikes, the devices (on the Franklin half, these would be the bust of Franklin, the lettering, and date on the obverse, and the Liberty bell, eagle, and lettering on the reverse) would display a snow-white cameo effect that would stand in stark contrast to the deep-mirrored fields surrounding them. The flawless, jewel-like quality of the best of these cameos almost look like works of art rather than mere coins! Indeed, to most collectors, these coins are works of art! The frosted devices of these early cameo dies were quite delicate - one could easily scratch a bit of frost from the die with one''s fingernail, and were the first part of the die to wear. Each think of! Let''s take a brief look at these five areas, and how cameo''s rate in relation to other U.S. coinage. There are few coins in numismatics as attractive as a cameo proof. While some may disagree with this statement, there is no disputing the opinions of literally thousands of collectors and dealers already familiar with this coinage. Proof coins themselves are minted specifically for collectors. As such, they have always represented the state-of-the-art in minting techniques. The mint has always gone to considerable trouble to produce these coins. Proof dies are highly polished and buffed until the surfaces possess a mirror-like perfection. Planchets go through extra steps in their preparation, until they too possess a brighter, satiny appearance. Traditionally, proof planchets have been hand-fed into the die, and have always been double struck, under higher pressures than business strikes, to bring out every possible detail. Once struck, the coins are handled individually so as not to abrade with other coins, as business strikes normally would. Cameo proofs were the very earliest strikes off new proof dies. During certain periods in the history of the mint, part of the die preparation process the nation. Subsequent population reports emanating from PCGS will reveal how very scarce the majority of proof issues are in cameo. With the release of the cameo proof book, and with PCGS'' and NGC''s leap into this market, cameo dealers and collectors will now have accurate, hard data with the release of these services'' grading reports to back up what we long-time cameo dealers and collectors have known for years - that exceptional cameo examples of many dates are extremely rare, and are truly among the best values in U.S. numismatics today. Most collectors and dealers are very familiar with BU Franklins. The majority of uncirculated BU Franklin half dollars on the market are extremely baggy, and/or possess very heavy, unattractive brown or gray toning. These are ugly coins. The Franklin design is a work of art in its simplicity. The bust of Franklin on the obverse, and the famous Liberty bell on the reverse, are beautiful valueofcoin when their surfaces are clear and unblemished! In addition, many Franklins were issued by the mint in cardboard mint sets. The sulfur from these paper products often created some of the most beautifully toned coins in all valueofcoin of U.S. coinage! While rare, gem Franklin halves
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