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Cameos can be found on some of the earliest American proof coins, but have not been produced intentionally for the public until recently. The US Mint, like many mints around the world, now specifically sells cameo coins, which could previously only be found randomly in mint proof sets.
In 2006, the
coin grading
Coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value. A coin's grade is generally determined by six criteria: strike, preservation, luster, color, attractiveness, and occasion ...
, cameo is the amount of contrast between the relief (raised or recessed design) and field (background). Cameo is usually seen on proof coinage
Proof coinage refers to special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies (as in demonstrating that something is true) and for archival purposes. Nowadays proofs are often struck in greater numbers specially for co ...
, with the relief featuring a frosted finish and the field being mirror-like. Not all proof coins have a cameo effect, however.
History
Cameos can be found on some of the earliest American proof coins, but have not been produced intentionally for the public until recently. The US Mint, like many mints around the world, now specifically sells cameo coins, which could previously only be found randomly in mint proof sets.
Non-proof cameos
Though rare, general circulation (non-proof) strikes may exhibit cameo as a result of die polishing. These coins are often designated "PL" (Proof-Like) if the cameo effect is strong enough. Coins with highly mirrored fields may even be designated "DMPL" (Deep Mirror Proof-Like, sometimes shortened to "DPL" or Deep Proof-Like). These designations are found mostly onMorgan Dollar
The Morgan dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1878 to 1904, in 1921, and beginning again in 2021. It was the first standard silver dollar minted since the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873, which ended the free coining of silve ...
s, and are more desirable than non-PL coins.
Reverse cameo
In 2006, the United States Mint
The United States Mint is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bullion. It does not produce paper money; tha ...
issued the first "reverse proof" coins. The coins, varieties of the American Silver Eagle
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States.
It was first released by the United States Mint on November 24, 1986. It is struck only in the one- troy ounce, which has a nominal face value of one dollar ...
and American Gold Eagle
The American Gold Eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States. Authorized under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, it was first released by the United States Mint in 1986. Because the term "eagle" also is the official United S ...
, feature reverse cameo finishes, where the relief is mirror-like and the field has a frosted appearance. Since then, the mint has produced numerous reverse proof coins for various occasions.
References