ASE Finishes, A Look At The Differences Between All Of Them

Here is the first Proof ASE. Probably everyone is familiar enough with this, but thought, well let's start with the basics. Highly mirrored field and frosted elements, anything higher than the field surface is frosted. The frosted appearance isn't totally white, it's almost like the elements have the same surface appearance as the bullion has, it's mainly the field that is the biggest difference, as well as the proof having a mint mark.

Also I'm 2006, the Reverse Proof was introduced as part of the 20th Anniversary set. It was mounted in Philadelphia. At that point Philadelphia has actually been producing the Proof ASE for several years, and doing a good job of it I might add.
The Reverse Proof was exactly as the name implies. Everything matte on the proof was mirrored on the Reverse Proof, and everything mirrored on the Proof was matte on the Reverse Proof. I would say that the matte-finishing of the field on the Reverse Proof is maybe a little "whiter" or maybe "flatter" is a better term, than the matte surfaces of the proof. Maybe that's just because it is done on flat surfaces instead of on the elements.

This should be the last set of pictures. In 2019 the mint produced the Enhanced Reverse Proof ASE. I'm sure you ask know they produced these at both West Point and the San Francisco mint, with the S being quite rare and valuable, the W looks the same but that made a lot more of them.
The overall look is a lot like a reverse proof, but they did make some changes. Some of the elements are polished and some are matte. It's an attractive coin for sure. It's a similar effect as the Enhanced Uncirculated where you actually seen to have 3 different finishes, the matte, the polished, and another finish that seems to be in between the two. It's just applied in different areas.
I mentioned the mountain on the EU, on this one the sun and rays are polished, the mountains and area surrounding the date are the matte finish. To my eye the the entire Liberty figure is the "in between" finish, except due the stripes and starts on the flag. The comment I read said that the ERP is the reverse of the EU, and in general I get it, but no there are definite differences when you are alternating between actually 3 different finishes.
They are both really beautifully done.

Excellent work

I would love to know what you are using and the settings you use to get images at this level of quality

I doubt you would consider it but imagine how they would look if you removed them from the capsules

Mine are already moved to Air-Tites

If I can figure out how to photograph them as well as you do I'll do it

There is a forum about this, not that I've ever really looked at it.
Flash is bad, but you need enough light. It seems like diffused light is better, so sometimes it's a matter of location relative to a window. Electric light doesn't seem to work the best for me, although professionals have different ways of diffusing light, I'm not doing this with any great regularity.
So sometimes it's a matter of finding a good spot. That coffee table in our lower level seems to be my sweet spot, good since window with Venetian blind I can adjust. (Plus I think it's a good background)
Then again I was using macro mode and filling the frame with the coin and waiting for it to adjust focus. Sometimes your have to try a couple times.
One other suggestion is having a good photo compressor, because the file is always 10X too big to post.

nice job Gilly