Luster is more important than I thought.

mdwoods

I recently went through a bunch of mint sets looking for coins to submit. While marks and their placement is very important, I now understand better why so much value is placed on luster. Some of the coins just exuded eye appeal, and invariably, they were the most lustrous. I was surprised by how much difference there was in the amount of luster on coins of the same date and mint. mdwoods

nwcs

Yep, I've read that luster makes up to 50% of a grade sometimes. I think appealing is always the thing we inevitably look for in coins, so it makes sense.

coinhead1

Much like the proof like mirrors make.

Russ

Luster rules.

Russ, NCNE

LucyBop

thats trick photography again.....

jom

That's true. It really comes down to luster. Sometimes even if there is a large gash you "might" give it the benefit of the doubt if it has amazing luster...

jom

Bulldog

Luster was one of the hardest things for me to diffrentiate when I firs started collecting. I was always confusing shine with luster and vice versa. It was at first for me, kind of looking at an xray and having to have the Dr point out the break each time.

But once I got it, there can be no mistake. And Luster does make the basis for sharp eye appeal.
bulldog

relayer

The easiest way to fully appreciate a coins luster to place it next to a flat coin graded 1 point higher.

DHeath

Mark,

I couldn't agree more. Many times, it is the difference in an MS64 Ike and an MS66. All of them have some marks and some planchet flaws. It is also a common trait in coins that look undergraded to me.

clackamas

Specifically with PCGS luster is important and does make up a large percentage of the grade. Its difficult, at least for me, to do this transition. I was tought that surface preservation (Marks) was 40% of a coins grade but PCGS will throw this out the door and quite simply baffle you.

merz2

Luster is the most important part of the grading process.Rick Montgomery said this a long time ago.He indicated more like 75% of the grade at PCGS.

doops

<< <i>Luster is the most important part of the grading process.Rick Montgomery said this a long time ago.He indicated more like 75% of the grade at PCGS. >>


don, you are so correct. that's why we have so many beat up ms 63 & ms64 1879,80,81 & 82-s mint morgans in 65 holders and so many really nice pq 65's in 67 holders even.
if the luster is a boomin it adds a maximum weight to a baggy coin. folks dont understand this
equation technically enough to understand the premise behind it

cladking

Mdwoods: Did you find much of interest? High grade? Varieties?

Ogden

Can anybody post an example of luster? I say this because of a post in this link that differentiates luster from shine. Thanks

Ogden

Fairlaneman

Ogden here is a feeble attempt at showing luster. If you could see these two dimes side by side in person you would have no problem telling what good luster and just so so luster is. Technically these two dimes are about even mark wise but the luster bumped the 18P up one grade. The 19S is clean mark wise but the luster is just flat and somewhat drab. The 18P even with the gash on her cheek is a MS65 coin and the 19S is a 64 coin.

Yes,I will agree with the folks here, luster is everything and without it the appeal is gone most of the time for a coin. IMO graders look at the luster first and assign a grade then look at the other things that may bump the coin down. Without the luster no high grades will be obtained. So it seems with Merc Dimes.



Ken

mdwoods

Nice pictures Ken. You can get a bit of a sense of the luster in the 18. It is so tough to show luster in a photo of an original toned coin. The 19 has a somewhat hazy look. Of course we have seen what Russ can do with a camera, but I understand what you are trying to show. mdwoods

Ogden

Thanks Ken, is it that dramatic? Both are beautiful coins!

Thanks again.

Ogden

Fairlaneman

Mark and Ogden:

I could enhance these also but do not like to do that when showing coins. The luster difference on these two coins is dramatic. The 18P if it did not have the hit on the cheek would be 66 for sure. The coin has the best luster of any Merc I have. Dont get me wrong the 19S is nice also but just weak luster wise.

Ken

IrishMike

I can tell you this from the show, the mercs that Whitlow had that PCGS had given 7's had incredible luster. They just boomed through his case.

redhott

Ogden,
Shine can be recognized as the reflection of light that comes at only certain angles and possibly only from certain surface areas when you view a coin. Luster is seen at all angles, and at every angle. That is why the best way to determine a truely lustrous coin is to rotate the coin surface while tilting it relative to a stable light source so that you can see the light play (reflect back from) across the coin's surface in a narrow band as you move the coin in a manner so that you get to see the light hit every spot of the surface, and thereby get to see the strength of the reflected light (or lack thereof) from each spot. As a beginner, you can do this slowly and methodically. Areas that are worn, rubbed, or impaired will register in your mind as a "dead" spot. As a professional grader, you do it at almost at a glance, since the flaws (areas missing luster, or areas of subdued luster) will stand out so obviously with your increased experience. The amount of "pop" (blast, or brilliance of the luster) you sense (your mind reacts instinctively from its experience) while viewing is the starting point from which you would be making the deductions for those flaws you see. With a great deal of experience, you would generally have a good idea of the age of a coin without looking at the date. That is how some experts first detect a possible counterfeit coin that looks fresh, instead of looking 100 years old.