Proof coinage refers to special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes. Nowadays proofs are often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors (numismatists). Nearly all countries have issued proof coinage.
Decorative packaging for proof set: Reserve Bank of New Zealand; Royal Mint
1970 British proof set
Reverse of a 2010 1⁄10 Onza (ounce) silver proof Libertad coin of Mexico
A 1969 United States Mint Proof set of 5 coins including 40% silver Kennedy half dollar
Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of minted legal tender. Coins of interest to collectors include beautiful, rare, and historically significant pieces. Collectors may be interested, for example, in complete sets of a particular design or denomination, coins that were in circulation for only a brief time, or coins with errors. Coin collecting can be differentiated from numismatics, in that the latter is the systematic study of currency as a whole, though the two disciplines are closely interlinked.
A coin collection, featuring coins loose and in various storage mediums.
Portrait of a Man with a Roman Medal by Hans Memling, depicting a Renaissance collector with a sestertius of Nero
A collection of various collectible coins, including several Indian silver coins and an American Innovation dollar graded by NGC, alongside a vintage sterling silver case.
Modern-day coins are a popular and important part of coin collecting.
