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 Replies: 23 / Views: 2,088 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
From the mint The United States Mint has chosen the new satin finish because it is handsome and provides consistency for United States Mint uncirculated products, including the Uncirculated Coin Set, Commemorative Coins and American Eagle Silver Bullion (uncirculated) coins. The satin finish, which will be continued on uncirculated coin sets in the future, will also help collectors differentiate between Uncirculated Coins in the United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Sets and those coins in bags and rolls that have never circulated. If you take a look at the coins struck in 2005 especially the Jefferson nickel series you will see what I mean by design flaws , the strike quality of the coins was extremely bad , the mint struggled with getting good strikes and clean surfaces they were so bad that the normal circulation strike coins were or would have been a loss in sales of the Unc sets, the solution was the satin finish which they spread acsross the entire production , minimalising their problems and increasing the demand at the same time . If you look around you may find some of the original conversations here when this satin finish system began, and of course there will always be opposing opinions , the press releases and the subsequent TPG conversations and the eventual labeling of these coins as SMS all made to order for the mint and their marketing direction . The only real difference is the etched dies used to strike the coins for the mint sets and other forsale Items available from the mint . |
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Moderator
 United States
188952 Posts |
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"Circulating coins" are now different than the Mint Uncirc. Sets". Quote:
The satin finish, which will be continued on uncirculated coin sets in the future, will also help collectors differentiate between Uncirculated Coins in the United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Sets and those coins in bags and rolls that have never circulated. In my opinion, this statement backs up eaglefoot's point. I do see Metalman's point as well. To each their own!  I only collect the business strikes direct from circulation. The only mint sets I have purchased were to acquire NIFC issues, like my 1973 and 1973-D Cu-Ni Clad Eisenhower dollars. But since they are different there will be people that will collect both these and the normal circulation strikes. I have no problem with that, "collect what you like!"  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1228 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Is there any reference to extra pressures , and special machines which strike the coins ? the only difference is the etched dies .they are called SMS ,,How special are the satin mint coins if they are the regular issue in the mint sets ?
is that enough to set them apart ? each will have their own opinion on that and decide for themselves if that is enough to pay a premium for .
to me its not .
I concede that they are slightly different based on the finish if you get coins which are struck relitively early in the run on new dies .
The 1 set that I own has little appearance of a satin finish on the coins .
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
Due to the economic crunch, I buy only two silver proof sets each year. One for me, and one for my wife.
I had two 1999 silver proof sets, but one of our grandsons was born in 1999, so I gave one to him.
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Moderator
United States
188952 Posts |
Quote:
Is there any reference to extra pressures , and special machines which strike the coins ? the only difference is the etched dies .they are called SMS ,,How special are the satin mint coins if they are the regular issue in the mint sets ?
is that enough to set them apart ? each will have their own opinion on that and decide for themselves if that is enough to pay a premium for . I agree, there is nowhere near enough difference to legitimately call them different. I collect business strikes from circulation, not from mint sets. I purchase the proof sets for the proof coins because they are, by your definition, truly different! I do not collect the 2005+ mint sets just because the mint says they are different. This is eaglefoot's point: they are being sold as different, so they must be, because why else would they inform you how to tell them apart from the normal business strikes! You and I agree they are really not that special or even really that different. My final point was that someone will decide that this "difference" is important to them and collect both. Edited by jbuck
01/02/2009 9:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
I have a loose Satin Finish 2006-D Colorado Quarter, and the burnished die effect is really apparent when put it's compared next to a BU business strike of same. The Satin Finish (outside of the Mint wrap) looks a lot like a "W" A.S.E., and that's a good look to have!  I have a five-Quarter frosted plastic holder, and I was thinking to put all Colorado Quarters in it. Clad Proof in center, Satin Finish D and P's next to it, and the D and P BU business strikes on the ends. A 'worthless' but unique set that I can leave on my desk...  |
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Moderator
United States
188952 Posts |
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A 'worthless' but unique set that I can leave on my desk... Worthless? No! Unique? Absolutely! I would love to see a picture of it if you decided to build it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
i think it is just something the mint has up its sleeve to make us collectors try to feel like we do not have uncirulated sets unless we buy the mint set they are offering  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
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Special Satin-finish on these uncirculated Mint Set coins. Uncirculated coins are minted on special presses and struck with greater force than circulating coins. This was a quote that I pulled and added to my comment earlier. And it says "Uncirculated coins are minted on special presses and struck with greater force than circulating coins".........I believe I dug that from a U.S. Mint article or somewhere......so then I guess the question should be ..... "Is this really a LIE ? Or is it true that they are struck on "special presses" with "greater force than circulating coins".....I don't know....but that quote, as I said, was NOT mine, I pulled it for reference to add to the comment I was making with Metalman. If that quote is false, I'd like to know ! Can someone just call the Mint and ask them ? If this IS false.....then I change my opinion COMPLETELY and agree with Metalman and Jbuck, however, if this "qoute" is TRUE, then this should be talked about and understood by more people. Disinformation EITHER WAY is not a good thing. I wanna know dang it ! Edited by eaglefoot
01/05/2009 11:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
It's Sunday morning......just here at the office to work out on the treadmill......and I just real quick looked through the Mint glossary and such.....this is all I could find so far and now I gotta go. Quote:
At the United States Mint, we use the term uncirculated when referring to the special coining process used to make the coin, which gives it a satin finish. Uncirculated coins are manufactured using the same process as circulating coins, but with quality enhancements such as slightly higher coining force, early strikes from dies, special cleaning after stamping, and special packaging. Uncirculated coins may vary to some degree because of blemishes, toning, or slight imperfections. Higher coining force....that would be the "struck with greater force" thing. Early strikes.....better quality "Special cleaning".....better quality You see, to me, it should not be a "matter of opinion"......it either is different in substantial ways..... or it isn't.I don't have the time to research this or find any good references, but if someone else could.......it'd be nice that's for sure. Because if I'm buying basically the same dang coin just for the packaging to say "Uncirculated Set", then I'll be just slightly annoyed and upset !...  So.........IS "SATIN FINISH" A BOGUS TERM OR NOT ?......(and I don't mean just barely enough noticable difference to be able to make the "claim",...it should be substantial enough to be different and seperate) Maybe a new topic should be started for this "Satin Finish"...... Edited by eaglefoot
01/04/2009 1:03 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Business strike coins are struck on Schuler horizontal presses containing 4 dies with a capacity of 750 coins/minute. I believe the older presses had a capacity of 200 or so coins/minute. Making an educated guess, I would say that they might strike the satin Mint Set coins on these older, slower presses with the striking pressure turned up a notch or two. I would bet the handling is different as well- business strikes ride around in ballistic pallets with a few hundred thousand coins but I doubt the Mint Set coins get this bulk treatment.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
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"Making an educated guess, I would say that they might strike the satin Mint Set coins on these older, slower presses with the striking pressure turned up a notch or two." You can see this all for yourself when you tour the Denver Mint! All of the Uncirculated coinage is made in its own smaller area of the Mint (north of the huge main area with the high-speed 'business' strike presses, that dump into Kevlar-bagged pallets), on smaller low-speed Schulers. Right with all of the small Schulers, on the north side of that room, is the packaging area where they are packaged into Mint Sets. Quote:
jbuck: "I would love to see a picture of it if you decided to build it." I still need a loose Satin Finish Colorado P, and I do also have a loose Silver Proof Colorado-S that I could use in the center. The difference between the Satin Finish coins and the BU business strikes wouldn't be as obvious in photos as it is in person. The cartwheel effect on this Satin Finish D is just outstanding! It looks like a 24mm version of a burnished "W" A.S.E.  This Set would be an eyecatcher in person.... Edited by DNA
01/04/2009 10:15 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
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You can see this all for yourself when you tour the Denver Mint! Don't remind me I have been to Denver once, in 2005 on my honeymoon. We had plans for touring the Mint but everything conspired against me. Post 9/11, you had to make Mint tour reservations through your Congressional Representative or Senator and undergo a mini-background check. In February of 2005, I sent an application to my Senator's office and waited. In mid April, I finally got a reply that they were no longer scheduling Mint tours and the only way I could make a reservation for a tour was at the Mint itself(no phone or interent reservations). Ok, I thought, just a minor set back. Our honeymoon was in early May and we spent the first part of it in Colorado Springs, arriving in Denver on a Tuesday. We went down to Colfax St to make reservations and the tours for the entire week were filled with school groups  I wanted to schedule it for that Friday(which was going to be my 30th birthday) but instead all I got to do was see the inside of the giftshop which was basically a construction trailer sitting next to the Mint  On the bright side, it sounds like my educated guess was correct  Edited by biokemist6
01/04/2009 10:30 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
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The cartwheel effect on this Satin Finish D is just outstanding! Odd, I would not expect a satin finish coin to have a pronounced cartwheel. The light scattering effect of the satin finish should mute or blur out much of the cartwheel. I would only expect cartwheel on a piece whose satin finish is close to being worn out. |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 2,088 |
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Posted 01/02/2009 5:56 pm
