A Look At The Finish

The finish is the description of the surface texture production methods employed before minting of a coin.  Some would say it is a description of the coin, but it all comes down to how the planchet and die were prepared prior to striking.  There are business strikes, Satin, SMS, and Proof with further descriptors Cameo, Deep Cameo, and Ultra Cameo.  Some of these are commonly available, others are hard to find.  A few are downright scarce.

Business Strikes

Let's have a look at a business strike fresh out of an opened roll.

This is a 2016.  Rather common, somewhat unremarkable.  While it has a delightful luster and shine, no special attention is given to business strikes.  The planchets are cleaned up, washed and pressed into service on a massive scale.  Several hundreds of billions of these have been produced.  Unspoiled specimens will have "Cartwheel Luster".

Recent years have seen spots become a dominant feature on business strikes as new methods of preparing planchets leave behind the residue of a rinse agent.

Business Strike Up Close

Die Stage has a great deal to do with the appearance of business strikes.  After being used for thousands upon thousands of strikes the dies will encounter issues which need attention.  If not replaced, used dies are often resurfaced by grinding.  While modern resurfacing methods have improved quality, older methods and quality control was not as stringent.  Polishing marks and die scratches are replete through the mid 80s.

1960-D with polishing marks

Special Mint Set

When the US went off the silver coinage standard at the end of 1964, a coin shortage immediately ensued as people snatched up all the silver they could.  In order to produce replacement coinage as fast as possible, all 3 mints were pressed into service to meet demand.  Proof coinage took a backseat in favor of business strike production but the Mint did produce a substitute: Special Mint Sets, 1964 through 1967.  The coins in these sets were produced with a better quality of planchet and a more refined die.  While the methods were not up to Proof standards, product quality was better than business strikes.

SMS left, Business Strike right

Better attention, better quality.  Early die stage strikes exhibit cameo devices which bring a premium.

While not quite proof quality, the finish is highly reflective, clear, and with strong detail.

Satin

Starting in 2005 the Mint produced coins with a satin finish to be included in US Mint Sets.  The planchets were burnished.  The dies were etched with a process similar to sandblasting, but with a much finer grain material.  This practice continued through 2010 at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints.

The effect does not reflect the light so much as it scatters the light.

The texture of the surface reminds me of the skin of a ripe pumpkin at the peak of freshness.  These Satin Finish coins have a distinctive appearance and can be found in albums people have assembled using mint sets.  They bring a premium.  Keep an eye out for them.

2009 Satin Cents, P and D, in all reverse designs, are further distinguished by the composition when the mint reverted to the original French Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) and weight of 3.11g.

Features of Satin coinage

• Dates will be 2005-2010 P and D ONLY
• They will be in, or will have originally come from Mint Sets
• The rims are USUALLY but NOT ALWAYS wider
• 2009 was made with 95% copper with a weight of 3.1 grams
• Finish disperses light differently than business strikes, scattering it rather than reflecting
• Planchet has been burnished, giving it a high degree of uniformity
• Finish is similar to, but much finer than the modern ultra proof cents.

Proof

Cameo Proof

Deep Cameo Proof

Ultra Cameo Proof

Reverse Proof

Matte Proof

Special Frosted Matte Uncirculated

Special Frosted Matte Proof

Burnished




I'll be back to work on this more...