Proofs are minted especially for collectors.

CANADA GOLD MAPLE LEAF $100 COIN 1/2 OZ 1978 PROOF US $789.99 End Date: Tuesday Mar-09-2010 22:25:32 PST Add to watch list

1967 Centennial Proof Set with $20 Gold Coin US $768.03 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 11:07:44 PST Add to watch list

1979 CANADA $100 INTL YEAR OF THE CHILD GOLD PROOF COIN US $545.12 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 17:17:20 PST Add to watch list

2005 CANADA PROOF SILVER DEER COIN & STAMP SET US $26.25 (9 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 20:13:42 PST Add to watch list

2004 CANADA 4 COIN SILVER PROOF SET (4 Effigies of QEII US $25.62 (7 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 20:16:10 PST Add to watch list

1996 22KT PROOF $2 POLAR BEAR GOLD COIN CANADA US $299.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Mar-12-2010 7:03:10 PST Add to watch list

1967 Canada Twenty Dollar $20 Gold Coin Proof US $650.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Mar-12-2010 11:21:33 PST Add to watch list

1981 CANADA $100 O CANADA - GOLD PROOF COIN US $545.12 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-13-2010 6:03:45 PST Add to watch list

1978 CANADA $100 NATIONAL UNITY GOLD PROOF COIN US $622.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-13-2010 9:33:55 PST Add to watch list

2009 PROOF SILVER $8 DRAGON OF WISDOM HOLOGRAM CRYSTAL US $0.96 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-13-2010 18:46:17 PST Add to watch list

Canada 1980 $100 Arnaldo Marchetti 1/2 Proof Gold Coin US $575.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday Mar-13-2010 18:50:06 PST Add to watch list

1978 Canada $100 Proof Gold ½ oz. coin – NR US $2.25 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 16:09:50 PDT Add to watch list

Canada 2009 Coal Mining Trade $200 Gold Proof Coin US $807.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 17:19:03 PDT Add to watch list

1967 Canada Canadian $20 Gold Unc Set Silver Proof US $649.99 End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:18:47 PDT Add to watch list

Canada 2004 solid proof .999 Gold Coin "Majestic Moose" US $53.17 (4 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 20:07:46 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA MONTREAL OLYMPIC $100 COIN 1/2 OZ CASED PROOF US $789.99 End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 7:54:52 PDT Add to watch list

2005 CANADA STERLING SILVER Golden Rose Proof Coin US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:15:39 PDT Add to watch list

2005 CANADA .9999 GOLD VOYAGEUR PROOF COIN US $12.55 (4 Bids) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:17:54 PDT Add to watch list

2003 CANADA $20 SILVER "THE BRICKLIN CAR" PROOF COIN US $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:28:19 PDT Add to watch list

1979 CANADA DOUBLE DOLLAR PROOF SET (Prestige) US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:31:35 PDT Add to watch list

1981 CANADA DOUBLE DOLLAR PROOF SET (Prestige) US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:33:43 PDT Add to watch list

2004 CANADA .9999 GOLD MOOSE PROOF COIN US $80.00 (7 Bids) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:36:33 PDT Add to watch list

2002 ROMANIA 100 LEI .9999 GOLD PROOF COIN RARE US $4.25 (3 Bids) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:40:10 PDT Add to watch list

1999 LEONARDO da VINCI .9999 GOLD PROOF COIN RARE US $8.50 (3 Bids) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:43:58 PDT Add to watch list

2005 CANADA.9999 SILVER (Toronto Lighthouse) PROOF COIN US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:52:59 PDT Add to watch list

2005 CANADA PROOF SILVER Walrus & Calf COIN & STAMP SET US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 19:59:08 PDT Add to watch list

Canadian $200 Gold Proof Coin - 1996 Transcontinental US $775.00 End Date: Tuesday Mar-16-2010 19:43:55 PDT Add to watch list

2001 CANADA PROOF GOLD BEAVER COIN AND STAMP SET US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-16-2010 21:41:51 PDT Add to watch list

2004 CANADA.9999 SILVER (Sambro Lighthouse) PROOF COIN US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Mar-16-2010 21:49:23 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA - 2002 - 200 DOLLAR PROOF GOLD COIN. US $749.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-17-2010 12:53:07 PDT Add to watch list

Canada 2006 4 x 1 oz Palladium Big Bear Laser Proof Set US $6,500.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-17-2010 16:31:30 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA, 1/10 OZ PURE GOLD MAPLE LEAF PROOF CAMEO 2004 US $279.00 End Date: Friday Mar-19-2010 11:06:00 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA $100 DOLLARS GOLD COIN, HURON 1989 PROOF US $399.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 9:26:03 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA $100 DOLLARS GOLD COIN, WHALE 1988 PROOF US $399.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 9:28:11 PDT Add to watch list

1967 CANADA PROOF SET WITH $20 GOLD US $727.77 End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 20:28:32 PDT Add to watch list

Gold CaymanIsland $25 Proof Royal Canadian Mint 1/4 GEM US $339.95 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 8:25:19 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA $100 GOLD COIN KLONDIKE 1896-1996 PROOF US $399.99 End Date: Tuesday Mar-23-2010 22:03:49 PDT Add to watch list

2002 Canada Gold $100 Black Gold Proof .2501 oz AGW US $379.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 6:31:08 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA $100 DOLLARS GOLD COIN 1995 PROOF LOUISBURG US $399.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-24-2010 8:34:58 PDT Add to watch list

1/25 oz 2009 Canada Red Maple Coin-GOLD PROOF-.9999 US $119.00 End Date: Saturday Mar-27-2010 21:08:51 PDT Add to watch list

1991 $100 *EMPRESS OF INDIA* 14 karat gold proof coin US $345.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-28-2010 19:06:45 PDT Add to watch list

1999 Canada Gold $100 Newfoundland Proof .2500 oz AGW US $379.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-28-2010 20:56:18 PDT Add to watch list

1992 Canada Gold $200 Niagara Falls Proof .5042 oz AGW US $749.00 End Date: Sunday Mar-28-2010 20:56:43 PDT Add to watch list

1993 CANADA $200 GOLD PROOF COIN WITH CASE/COA 1/2 OZ US $749.00 End Date: Monday Mar-29-2010 20:31:35 PDT Add to watch list

2004 Proof 1/25oz Gold Canadian Moose .9999 Fine US $166.00 End Date: Thursday Apr-01-2010 16:03:25 PDT Add to watch list

2000 Canada Gold Hologram Dragon Proof Coin Highest Grd US $1,195.00 End Date: Friday Apr-02-2010 10:42:21 PDT Add to watch list

1987 $100 Canadian Gold Proof Coin US $350.00 End Date: Friday Apr-02-2010 13:06:36 PDT Add to watch list

1979 CANADA $100 GOLD GEM PROOF COIN W/CASE/COA US $749.00 End Date: Saturday Apr-03-2010 20:34:49 PDT Add to watch list

CANADA $200 DOLLARS GOLD COIN 2002 PROOF US $749.00 End Date: Wednesday Apr-07-2010 20:26:07 PDT Add to watch list

A coin that is struck using a special, high-quality minting die so that its impressions and imprinting is in pristine condition is called a proof coin. Such types of coins are made especially for collectors. Many of the proof coins minted before the twentieth century were distinguished from the regular coins by their polished and high detailed surfaces; however, modern proof coins usually are made using mirror-like fields. The main reason why such proof coins are not seen in circulation is because they are especially made for collectors and are sold at rates which are higher than the face value of the coin.

Normally when printing a coin, two die are used; one die is used for the front design and the other is used for the back design of the coin. However, in the case of minting a proof coin, the dies first need to be polished and then treated using special chemicals so that the finished coin can have a more frosted appearance. Also, when minting such proof coins, the dies used strike the coins twice instead of the usual one time used for regular coins. This is mainly done so that the plain metal is forced into all the visible crevices of the dies giving the finished coin a much sharper image. This results in the coin getting a very fine detailed image. Such proof coins can be distinguished from regular circulated coins by their much sharper designs and rims, along with the much smoother fields.

Grading of proofs is very similar to grading Mint State coins. Here, the grades are preceded by PF and have the same numeric values starting from 60 to 70. An uncirculated proof would be graded as PF-60 while a PF-70 would be graded a perfect proof.