1955 dime - is it a proof?

[jamesandsons]

I'm halfway through the second of two bags of dimes today, when I come upon a 1955 P - my first one, and my 39th out of 48 in the set.

But the more I look at it, I'm wondering if it might actually be a proof. It certainly has more luster than any other silver Roosie I've ever found - the field in particular is really bright. I don't have any other proofs from that era to compare it to, so I'm really just guessing. When I put it next to a 2014 dime, the field luster is not quite as bright, but comparable.

I don't know if these pictures are good enough, but take a look and let me know what you think.

 

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[Twitch]

For what it's worth I found a 1962 proof dime 2 or 3 days ago and it is completely unmistakable that it's a proof. That might be a function of how long it's been in circulation though.

Nice find.

 

[omga747]

Hard to tell from the pics, but the rim looks thick and well-defined, so that's a good sign.

 

[Local_coins]

A proof will show good contrast between the relief and the field. Even a worn proof will look different than a business strike. Once you have a genuine proof in your hands they are unmistakeable.

 

[jamesandsons]

After posting this I immediately decided it couldn't be a proof. But then I pulled a very nice 1964 and looked at them side by side... Man, I just don't know. The contrast isn't super-high, but the mirror-likeness of the field seems comparable to other worn known proofs I've found.

I put it in the empty 1955 slot in my vintage album for now, where it manages to catch the eye among all the other Roosies.