Are the PL and DPL US mint offerings accidents? D Carr what do you think?
drfish
Posts: 948 ✭✭✭✭
Since we're about to be awash in 2016 Centennial mint state gold coins, I thought I would ask the opinions of hoard members that are knowledgable about minting. Starting with the UHRs and many of the high profile US Mint offerings prooflike coins have been hitting the market and bringing big bucks. Is this savvy marketing on the mints part or an accident ?
0
Comments
Sort of a subset of Hanlon's Law: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity...
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Since we're about to be awash in 2016 Centennial mint state gold coins, I thought I would ask the opinions of hoard members that are knowledgable about minting. Starting with the UHRs and many of the high profile US Mint offerings prooflike coins have been hitting the market and bringing big bucks. Is this savvy marketing on the mints part or an accident ?
Sometimes that is the case, where the first strikes are more proof-like than later strikes. Generally, however, that is for "CAMEO" proofs. Earlier strikes have more cameo contrast between the frosted devices and polished fields. As the dies wear, the frosting and polishing both diminish, and could eventually meet in the middle where there is no longer any cameo contrast.
But most of the time, US Mint dies for striking "Uncirculated" finish coins are sandblasted. The early strikes from such dies will have a matte appearance. As more pieces are struck, the die face texture becomes smoothed out and the coins struck later on will have more of a polished look.
I suspect the "proof-like" UHRs are actually later die states.
The same thing could happen with these gold dimes. But they are not as big in diameter, and they are not dished as much as the UHRs.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson