Thread: Why did they stop the satin finish?

I collect Kennedy halves and I noticed that there is no 2011 satin finish coin listed. I also noticed other coins for that year with no satin finish listed.

Why did they stop the satin finish coins? Seems like they were popular.

I think they did satin finish in the mint uncirculated sets from 2005-2010 and the Mint decided the process of making these special blanks was too costly.

I wish Dansco would put holes for them in the books.

I have a slabbed satin lincoln cent and can't tell the difference between that and a "normal" bright BU red cent. How can you tell the difference? I've heard that satin finishes leave a "glossy" look...I don't see it.

generally the satin finish coins are less glossy than the standard. there was a big difference in the '06 ASEs but now they all look "satin" to me.

Originally Posted by fusiafinch

Why did they stop the satin finish coins? Seems like they were popular.

Why did they make 'em in the first place? I suspect a marketing ploy to bring in more money for the mint coffers. When the little devils discovered their 'ploy' didn't generate any extra sales of mint sets they abandoned it. Costs more moo-la to manufacture 'satin' (satin?) coins and the collecting community didn't buy it.......

The satin deal really messed with a lot of collectors. I'm glad it ended.

Yes and you can only seem to get satin finished 2009 nickels and dimes. I still have blanks for three of the four circulation coins in my albums. It seems beyond the pail to purchase these coins. I'm hoping one day that I'll find them in circulation. I'm thinking that they're hiding behind all those ATB quarters that aren't quite making it to the countryside.

Just love those proofs , keep them commin

Why did they stop the satin finish coins? Seems like they were popular.

No they were not popular and led many of use to quit buying the mint sets. In fact for me 2009 was my last year to buy any mint or proof sets from the mint.

Originally Posted by cremebrule

I have a slabbed satin lincoln cent and can't tell the difference between that and a "normal" bright BU red cent. How can you tell the difference? I've heard that satin finishes leave a "glossy" look...I don't see it.

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the cents and dollar coins were NOT satin finish.
Only the nickel, dime, quarter, and half got the satin treatment (2005-2010 inclusive).

Love it! Early satin proof Lincolns were unpopular when they made them too. Always collect low mintage unpopular coins - they're usually inexpenses at the time and they'll usually have their day.

All coins in the 2005 to 2010 mint sets are satin and show proof like detail due to the extra strike force.

Count me among those who liked the satin finish for its uniqueness. I may try to put a full graded set together given time and $$$. I do have a full set in OGP. Of particular interest of course, are the 2009 P & D Lincoln anniversary cents in copper with the satin finish. There appears to be a small premium for high grade samples.

Why did they make 'em in the first place? I suspect a marketing ploy to bring in more money for the mint coffers. When the little devils discovered their 'ploy' didn't generate any extra sales of mint sets they abandoned it.

Unfortunately, I suspect that this is close to the truth. If the Mint was making money with these, they'd still be making them.

But I didn't realize that some people don't like them, even to the point of giving up buying mint sets? I do like them and I lament their demise.

Anyway, the 50 th anniversary of the Kennedy half is coming up. Why don't they have a special issue for that? Kennedy's are popular and any special year issue seems like would generate a lot of interest.

This is just my observation from the first year of the issue, 2005............

I noticed that many of the business strikes, particularly for the half dollars and state quarters, had a very poor finish. They had many "shiny splotches" over the surface of the coins. I suspect that the Mint discovered that the dies for the satin finish coins did not last very long, but still had a useful life. I think they took those worn dies, polished them a bit and used them for business strikes.

Personally, I thought the implementation of the satin finish for the mint sets was a bad move. It left set collectors wanting business strikes for their sets with no alternative but to search bags and rolls.

Chris