Expert: Dan Moore - 5/2/2005

Question
I hear a lot about "deep cameo" coins. What makes a coin a deep cameo? Is it struck more times than a regular proof coin?

Thanks,
Joe

Answer
Hi Joe,

Thank you for your question.

Deep Cameo refers to the difference in contrast between the frosty surface of the portrait, and the mirrored surface of the field around the portrait.

It's not that the coin is struck more times, but rather relates more to the newness of the dies used to strike the coin.  When dies are made, the process used gives the figures on the coin a frosty, non-mirrored appearance, while at the same time the fields around the figure get a mirror-like polishing.  So when you examine the coin at arm's length, you will see a frosty white figure surrounded by pitch-black fields.

Over time, as more coins are struck with a set of dies, the frostiness wears off of the dies.  So while the first coins struck with a new set of dies can be "ultra-deep cameo", over time (as the frostiness wears off the dies) the following coins will degrade to "deep cameo", then "cameo", and finally non-cameo (where the portrait is just as mirrored as the fields).

While the Mint has nowadays prettymuch perfected the method for producing deep cameo proof coins all the time, collectors search for (and will pay more for) strongly cameo'ed older proof coins.  Going backward through time, the older the coin, the harder to find a cameo.  While cameos are plentiful in coins from the 1980's or newer, they become much more difficult to find in coins older than 1964.

Some of these older deep cameo proofs will command astronomical prices!  For example, check out the values for deep cameo proof Franklin Halves from the early 1950's.

You can see them here :
http://pcgs.com/prices/frame.chtml?type=date&filename=franklin_kennedy_half

I hope this helps,

Dan