FlyingAl

I'm working on a research project, and it involves 1936-1942 Cameo Proofs specifically. Specifically, I'm looking to expand the images of these coins in a die catalog. My work on this has been in progress for some time, but I'm trying to get images of as many of these as possible. Here's what I'm asking for - I need owners of these coins to send them to me for imaging. I will be prepared to offer my photographic services for free, and a little bonus for their efforts. I am prepared to offer images of the Cameo Proof and five other coins in addition to that coin for free. The images will be obverse and reverse and whatever other shots I take and edit. My standard image rules will apply, and I will of course need to use the images for my research. PCGS/NGC graded CAMs are preferred. If you have a near-CAM coin, feel free to reach out too. The only caveat is this - the owner of the coin will pay shipping due to how costs vary based on the desires of each member. I will, however, offer a stipend in the form of images of three extra coins ($30 in trade). If this is not enough, please reach out and we can see what we can work out. My goal is to make this as beneficial to those who are willing to help as possible, but I realistically don't have the ability to shell out hundreds of dollars in shipping fees, so I need to use my services as a sort of trade. Feel free to PM if you any questions. Lurkers can reach out to flyingalphoto@gmail.com if they'd like to inquire. Thanks!

1941 No AW Proof Walkers are generally represented in about a quarter of the graded population. It was an extremely common reverse die, and as such the coins are pretty low quality. They are generally discounted as such by specialists, but non-avid collectors of these may see them as novelty items. Long term value on these is very weak. Coins with full details are much much rarer and desirable to specialists.

Yes. I don't want my replies here to affect how people will receive the finished article. None of the previous or now edited posts really put that in jeopardy, but these posts have much less context than the full article, and could be misinterpreted.

This was not fully documented. The dies could have been used in service long after the Smithsonian coins were struck.

This was not confirmed, but it is possible, though unlikely.

The characteristics are all the same - struck once on a toggle press from fresh dies and handled individually. They will all share the same die markers, which doesn't stop those who have dreams of striking it rich from imagining the die markers on their coins.

Even special strike would be a stretch. The name as it stands at "SMS" will probably never change, even though the coins bear no resemblance to such coins.

OP has tried this over at PCGS and got the same answer. This is not a so called "SMS" coin.

Fire away! A few drafts have been in the works, but I want to be sure the final draft answers all the questions out there.

As Roger notes, there are other tells to show these coins are Proofs, but they're all fairly difficult to see in images. One such marker we noted in discussions was an oval depression near the base of the third ray on the obverse, and the rim to edge junction.

Thank you!

Surfaces, strike, rims, sheen, edges, VAM 1H. For these, that's about as good as you can get.