VOCABULARY TERMS: PROOF BLANK, PROOF DIE

Proof Blank. An extensively cleaned and polished planchet intended to be struck by proof polished dies to create a struck piece in mirror-like proof finish. Blanks for proof coins are treated exactly like other blanks except they are carefully polished to a mirror-like surface and inspected prior to use. Generally proof blanks are airblasted with compressed air to remove any contaminates as even lint can mar the mirror surface. For a proof striking, press operators wearing protective gloves hand feed the planchets (as perspiration from bare fingers will soil the surface as well). Proof strikes can only be created from such polished blanks and mirror-like polished dies. They are also called FLAN BRUNI (French for burnished blank[RWB2] ).

Proof Die. A normal working die is highly polished and treated to produce a mirror finish when struck on specially prepared polished blanks. See proof finish.

To read the complete entries on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Proof Blank (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516558)
Proof Die (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516559)

 

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