Two handsome matte Proof issues from 1912 showcased the beauty of this short-lived format. The U.S. Mint experimented with Matte Proof finishes for only a few years across all denominations, and the surface appearance is quite different from the reflective field with frosty devices collectors are used to on modern Proof coins.
A 1912 Lincoln cent graded Proof 65+ red by Professional Coin Grading Service with a green Certified Acceptance Corp. sticker featured the finely textured satiny matte texture seen on Matte Proof coins, with subtle silver-olive undertones. Rarely found finer, it sold for $6,600.
Also exceptional was a 1912 Indian Head gold $2.50 quarter eagle graded Proof 66+ by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. that realized $33,600. The cataloger for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries March 26 Rarities Night auction noted, “Both sides exhibit…surfaces sparkling with myriad tiny facets as the coin rotates under a light,” with “light mustard-gold color” and “subtle pale pink highlights” also evident.
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Read More: Bronze, gold matte Proofs from 1912