Luster Life - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 958
numismo Rest in Peace United States 3039 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 11:36 am As I go through endless rolls of LMCs looking for that mind blowing, pocketbook building, prestige enhancing, chest puffing rare or one of a kind variety, I can't kelp but notice different levels of mint luster on the coins. I know billions and billions are being punched out, but how long do they stay shiny. I've noticed even the 2000 era coins start to lose it after only a few years. Go to the 1990s and they really start to fade. Very few clean, shiny and undamaged coins are coming from the 80s. It's a treat to find one from the 70s or before. Does anyone know the actual life of mint luster with normal wear on these cents? It's so much easier to spot varieties when the coin is shining back at you. Report this Post to the Staff

vermontensium Moderator United States 16677 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 11:51 am Depends on the actual time the coin spends in circulation. Mint luster can be evident as low as the VF35 levels in the devices of some coins. swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
numismo Rest in Peace United States 3039 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 12:09 pm Thanks for the reply. I guess I should have asked about brilliant life. Any ideas there ? Report this Post to the Staff
jedichef Pillar of the Community United States 781 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 12:49 pm similar question for me would be, how do different metals react to air exposure? If I left a copper penny, true nickel-nickel, cupro-nickel, silver quarter, clad quarter out on a shelf exposed to the same air/humidity would they lose their brilliance at different rates? Would they oxidize differently? Or is handling the primary reason coins lose their luster/brilliance with air being a negligible factor? Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16677 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 1:21 pm Handling would be the main reason for a coin losing it's luster which in essence, is the breaking down of the surfaces flow lines which were formed during the minting process. If a coin is left out on a shelf for example, over time, the coin would also lose it's luster due to environmental factors such as polluted air or moisture thus causing corrosion or pitting destroying the luster eventually. swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
daviscfad Pillar of the Community United States 4541 Posts	Posted 02/08/2009 11:12 pm i would just say keep all nice examples you find and set them apart from the others Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 5 / Views: 958

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