How would you describe the difference between frosty and satiny luster on a coin?
drddm
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The best way to distinguish between the two is to obviously look at many, many coins with each type…however if you had to describe in words the difference, what would you say?
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I always took the words literally.
Frosty like the frost on your car in the early morning cold days. Sort of a rougher appearance with very tiny crystals glistening or glittering back at you in the light.
Satin like a satin sheet with a smoother appearance and the shine of white satin sheet in the light.
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RLJ 1958 - 2023
I am tempted to quote Justice Potter Stewart ("I know it when I see it") but I think of frosty luster as being bolder, more intense and satiny luster being softer, more subdued.
For me, satin is a type of die surface result, whereas frosty is a metallic appearance condition. IMHO
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Satiny is more subtle.
@lilolme
I really like that description!
Frosty, to me is thick and irregular, bold, and almost always from a die that was seen a little life.
Satiny, to me is much smoother, cleaner ... almost proof like ... a fresher surface and usually from a newer die.
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Satiny luster implies a low reflective sheen on the surface like an ASE or the new Morgan/Peace.
Frost is a "thicker" metal flow like a cameo Morgan portrait with high contrast or like the words suggest, frozen/frost. IMO.
Frost is very pronounced and usually on mirror fields... Satin finish usually describes the entire coin surface, and not as pronounced as the frost. Cheers, RickO
More ill-defined numismatic terms. It is in the eye of the beholder.