I've read that the 1892 Columbian Exposition commemorative half dollar proof has two definitive diagnostics, one on each side of the coin. From what I understand, the 1893 Columbian halves were made from completely different dies from the previous year. And, IIRC, while NGC designates proof strikes, PCGS does not. Part of the reason for this may be the fact that all of these half dollar commemoratives were stated to be made of similar strike appearance as medals unlike circulation coins of the time, as noted in the Mint Directors Report of calendar year 1892 or 1893 (I forget which one but I believe it was the latter). And, proof strike procedures, per se, weren't specifically documented as having been taken place. Rather, the first 100, 400th, 1,492nd, and 1,892nd coins were reserved (I believe it was for both years but that may just be for the 1892 year coin only). So, were these 103 coins made with extra care - the same kind seen on proof coins? Specifically, I would think that they had a single proof die that they used for the first 100 coins, which was then switched out for a business die until the 400th coin came up, which in turn was switched out for the proof die, and so forth. This makes me think that coins immediately following the 1,892nd (or 1,893rd for the following year?) die had proof diagnostics, since perhaps they didn't feel the need to switch out the dies. That may be the reason why a business strike coin emerged with the same proof diagnostics for the 1892 Columbian half dollar (pics below). Anyway, does anyone know what the proof diagnostics are for the 1893 Columbian halves, or at least what's suspected or used by NGC to determine them as proofs? Thanks in advance! Pics from NGC site from link above. 1892 Columbian half dollar obverse proof diagnostics - double line running parallel to collar on Columbus' neck line. Proof on left, business strike with proof diagnostics on right. 1892 Columbian half dollar reverse proof diagnostics - line running across bottom of central sail. Proof on left, business strike with proof diagnostics on right.
PCGS has in the past and even have a single one in the population for 1893, but I am not sure if they decided to discontinue that at any point
PCGS will not designate PL for business strikes of these that happen to be prooflike (or for any other PL coin that isn't a Morgan dollar), but they will designate the proofs as such. Many 1892 proofs have been graded by PCGS and one 1893. Edit: Here's a link to a Stack's/Bowers auction from 2012 for an 1893 proof. Lots of good reading there.
Ahh, I see. Thanks for that info. That's strange that a PL coin with PL qualities won't be PL. They must have some other standard for PL coins, either in general or for that Columbian coin specifically. As for the 1893 proof coin, thanks for that link. I'll have to do a "Where's Waldo" comparison with a business strike to figure out what the diagnostic is, besides the strong strike and relief. Only two ever graded total by both PCGS and NGC - crazy!
...from that link, "Then along came Walter Breen, whose opinions were often freely given, and many of which were later proved to be completely false." lol, burrrrrrn.
