Proof Coin Scarcity
And what was it about this coin that made it so desirable? First and foremost, it’s a proof quarter. Proof coins are the first to go through the press and are the ones that are quality checked before being mass-minted and distributed for general circulation.
Photo by Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS/Getty Images
Be wary of unscrupulous individuals who will mechanically polish a common low-value coin to create mirrored-like surfaces. They’ll next try to pass off the tampered coins as proof. If you’re unsure whether a coin is proof or not, compare it to a known proof coin from a proof set or one in a certified holder.