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At least for US coins, proof coins are never circulated. All proof coins I have seen from recent years come in a sealed hard plastic container to protect them from damage. I understand that proof coins also get special handling at the mint to insure the best quality pressing.
After that come a couple grades of uncirculated coins, meaning, if I understand correctly, are coins which have been distributed to banks but not put into general circulation by the banks. You might have one of those coins.
Some number of years ago, US currency, maybe only dollar bills, was exchangeable for their face value in silver. Those bills were labelled silver certificates. This changed quite a few years back. Maybe around 1963-1964 when the US stopped production of silver coins.
Depending on condition, a bill like that is probably worth more than face value.
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