1951 1c-50c Proof Set, 5 Coins PR

The Proofs of 1951, like those of 1950, come in two finishes. While most are fully brilliant, a certain percentage may be found having partially brilliant or somewhat satiny fields. It is likely that such coins resulted from incomplete polishing of the dies. While not as popular, they do tend to reveal more detail of the coins’ designs, since the more aggressively polished dies sometimes had their low­-­relief elements polished away completely.

Cameo Proofs are rare, but they are known for each denomination. Deep or ultra cameo pieces are very rare. There is some anecdotal evidence that collectors of the time took notice of such distinctions, though there appears to have been no premium attached to them until the 1970s. Some veteran collectors would have made a comparison between modern Proofs and those of the pre­-­1916 period and realized that modern cameo pieces were exceptional and worthy of some interest.

Though most of the Proof cents coined since 1950 retain much of their mint red color, there still exists a market for Proofs certified as Red­-­Brown, or RB in grading service shorthand. Cameo pieces are rare enough that they carry a premium even when not fully red. This is certainly true of Proof cents through at least 1970, though for subsequent years anything less than full red is not very desirable. Two collectible varieties are known for the Proofs of 1951. A small number of cent Proofs may be found with die doubling in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. A rare variety of the Proof nickel features die doubling in Jefferson’s profile and in the word TRUST.

Source: Whitman