Can't Get No Relief, Or The Flatest Coins Of All

Ironically, there is more "definition" in current coins. The vast majority of nickels now have plenty of steps, when even mint-packaged uncirculated coins from the 60s often have no steps.

But I agree -- these digitally produced designs seem terraced instead of sculpted. But then, when we mint zinc cents that dissolve in a year, why would we put good art on them?

Die life is increased by lowering the relief. Lowering the relief doesn't increase the speed of the press, but if you increase the speed of the press you DO have to lower the relief. And that second point is the major reason we have flat coins now. Up until the 60's the presses ran around 60 coins per minute. The presses were modified to strike two and then later four coins at a time. Then the speed was gradually increased toward 100 cycles per minute. Around 2002 the mint began switching over to new high speed presses striking horizontally. These presses went back to a single die pair, but these presses now run at 720 to 750 cycles per minute.

I hate it when I am ambiguous.

"...speed and die life, as both are increased with the use of lower relief designs."
"...speed [can be] increased with the use of lower relief designs."

The lower relief itself does not cause the speed increase, but that the speed can be increased when a lower relief is used.