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A tip for those who don't understand "Luster" completely...

Grab a CD, doesn't matter if it's Mozart, Meat Loaf or whoever else, just a CD. Actually, a new CD-R would work the best, but it's not really necessary. Now look at that CD, and when hold into a spotlight, you will see a narrow line crossing the disk from left to right in rainbowcolors. When you move the disk, the line will also move.

When an UNC coin has luster, it will display a same sort of line, but now in just white over the coin. In AU, it will be less strong or prominent, and further down in grade you will hardly notice it. A crisp UNC coin, with outstanding luster will show a very clear line, a coin with so-called dull luster somewhat less.

Hope this helps for some of you,

Dennis

Comments

  • ram1946ram1946 Posts: 762 ✭✭
    Thanks for the tip Dennis. The rainbow on the CD-R is indeed there but it's more than just "narrow". I would say it fans out to a cylindral shape at about 30 degrees.
  • CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,033 ✭✭✭
    Good to hear from you Dennis. Thanks for the insight. Been on any good road trips lately?image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"


  • << <i>The rainbow on the CD-R is indeed there >>



    AT?image
  • Dennis88Dennis88 Posts: 5,797 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Good to hear from you Dennis. Thanks for the insight. Been on any good road trips lately?image >>



    Offcourseimage Already seen most of the provinces of the country this yearimage. This friday, another 12+ hours gone for one gameimageimageimageimageimageimage

    Actually, the team is doing quite good. 3 victories in a row, for the first time this seasonimage. Unfortanly, the season's almost overimage


    << <i>AT? >>



    Maybe you should submit one of yours to PCDGS (Professional Compact Disc Grading Service), altough I'm not sure if they are grading AT Cd'simage

    Dennis
  • CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,033 ✭✭✭
    Hopefully you're getting enough image and not too much image , you're still a YN remember. image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"
  • TheRegulatorTheRegulator Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭
    When I first started collecting, I considered "cartwheel luster" to be true luster. But it seems that some folks consider there to be different types of luster.

    From what I know, luster describes a state of die flow lining, and the cartwheel luster described is typical of a later die state with at least moderate die flow lining. The flow lines in the metal surface act to reflect the light, in a pattern similar to the grooves on a CD diffracting the light. I love it when you can see luster on a nice, early Extremely Fine coin, and these are usually LDS coins. Sometimes you can find older nickels in pocket change that are VLDS with super heavy die flow lining.

    But I have also seen coins or tokens with proof-like surfaces with comments on their "luster". These pieces reflect light in a different manner. So is there just one type of luster- the traditional cartwheel luster- or are there different types of luster? Say you could follow the life of a married pair of Morgan Dollar dies, from DMPL VEDS to VLDS. Would each die state, from very early to very late, have its own type of luster? Do matte proof Lincoln cents have luster? Just curious what other people have to say on the subject...
    The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. -Thomas Jefferson
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,707 ✭✭✭✭✭
    luster
    In numismatics, the amount and strength of light reflected from a coin’s surface or its original mint bloom. Luster is the result of light reflecting on the flow lines, whether visible or not.

    lustre
    Alternate form of luster.

    lustrous
    A term used to describe coins that still have original mint bloom.

    as PCGS defines it

    you'll also notice that "NOWHERE" under the definition of LEGEND, will you find Laura's name image.

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