I Don't Understand Satin

I will admit. I'm not an avid poster on the site, though I am an avid reader. I feel that I can find most info through web searching and books and will admit that I feel somewhat intimidated to ask professionals what seems like silly questions or questions that can easily be answered with a little work of my own. However, after some searching, I feel asking professionals is necessary...What is the deal with Satin coins? To be honest, from my understanding, the mint implemented the Satin finished for two main reasons:

1. To help people distinguish the collectible series from business strike uncirculated coins

2. To make the coins look better and more appealing

If the two statements are the only reasons as to why the satins are created, here are my next questions:

If the goal is to make coins look better, wouldn't spur more coin collecting (and I guess more business for the mint) to have these beauties circulating and not sitting in sets?

And finally,

Just in your opinion, is it worth it to have a set of satin and a set of business issue when collecting the recent issues?

Thanks for the help.

 

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Those are really not the reasons.
The goal is to make a different finsh type coin thats all.
Like all mint set and proof set coins, satin finish really is just a method of manufactoring and not a grade.
Dies are different, planchets are selected and press are dedicated for the striking of satin finsh coins.
It's a value add for (for many) collectors as these type coins are included in special mint sets for collectors and as far as I know no one asked for them though I could be wrong about that I don't remember.
Sometimes it's a value add sometimes it's a bother because as you ask "are we supposed to have all the different ones to have a complete set"?
In this case since 2005 anyway it's sort of a mute point (for set collectors) that obtain both mint and proof sets as they will have, in this case all the satin finsh coins by buying the mint sets.
What they won't have is regular "mint set" type coins for those years because they do not exist.
I personally do not like them because they are struck weaker and don't have the crisp die strike of a freashly minted EDS (early die state) type coin IMO. They do have a frost (finished surface) that many love.
One more thing, satin finish is not new as it relates to 2005 thru 2009. They were minted on single issues in 1997 and 1994 Nickel and in the past with special proofs in the late thirties and during the first few years of Lincoln's in the teens. Many SMS (special mint sets) in 1965, 66, and 67 contained coins that could easily be called satin finish although they were not manufactored as such as far as I know.

 

So do you need them to have a complete set? What's the general consensus there?
And of course it's up to each of us to decide but as a general rule I'm just wondering where people line up here.

 

This is more correct I was wrong, These 2 nickles were matte, a different finish.

 

bh3prd:

You were greatly helpful in the explaination provided. I knew it wasn't a grade and was more of a production formatting, but as to the exact mechanisms I was clueless. I also didn't realize multiple other years utilized the satin, though I was aware of the matte finish. I'm still going to go with, unless someone can cite otherwise, that the mint is utilizing the finish to produce more of a cosmetic appeal to the collectible products, though I'm sure there are other reasons I'm simply missing or have yet to encounter.

Duke:

I'm sure that a more strenuous collector would say yes, collect all finishes, but I think I have made up my mind not to. Just doesn't seem worth the effort and in my mind there is little difference except for the detail provided. Simply put, I like to find the coin with the sharpest detail in an effort to gain an appreciation of what the artist was trying to portray. I'm taking a similar approach with the presidential dollars I continue to collect...no sense in collecting both Type I and II varieties because as a whole it doesn't affect the nature of what I look for in the collection.

 

Do you think that they will keep making these?
And if so wont there be subsets down the road just for this type of coin?
And if both the above are true then wouldn't just the best type unc coin be the hardest to find in good quality?

 

Only time will tell if the satins from 2005+ outperform the business strikes or vice versa. I think buying the mint sets is a relatively inexpensive way to get them just in case. I saw an ad online for 2009 nickels and dimes, but if you read the fine print they were satin versions from the US Mint Sets. TC

 

For a minute there, I thought you said "I don't understand Satan"! Got a little concerned, but I'm ok now! LOL!

 

So, my opinions on if they will keep making them: I think they will. Not many people are complaining about the finish, or otherwise I think there would have been more mint bashing on cointalk. (with the exception of the spotting that seems to be somewhat resolved). Unless people request the old finish, the mint finds the satin finish too expensive to pursue, or any other various reasons, I have no doubt they will continue the satin finish.

Subsets? Yep, I'm sure of it. You've seen on cointalk there is a collector for about anything, so I imagine someone is going to try (and succeed) to put together a subset collection. More power to them.

And finally, for the third question, if I'm interpretting it correctly, yes, the better quality uncirculated regular business strike may be the most difficult to find...which is fine by me. I'm sure you've seen just how fun it is to try to find a 2009/10 cent,nickel,dime,quarter. More fun during the search!

Well, those are my opinions/guesses. We'll just have to see how they hold out.

 

Where is Statequarterguy? These questions are right up his alley!

 

Lot's o' folks seem to need the "satins" and regular business strikes to fill the 'holes". I've been using mint sets to fill holes since I was knee high to a grasshopper. To me, a coin from a mint set is a regular production coin. That's how I do things, and that's how I'll continue to do things. Others can and will disagree.....:smile

 

you should collect what you want to collect how you want to collect it

 

I really like the satin coins, but wish they still produced Mint sets with business strike coins...especially since the 2009/2010 nickels and dimes are so hard to find.

 

I was just about it to say that...

 

From the US Mint website:

"United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image, and feature the satin finish introduced in 2005."

I think it is both cosmetic and to distinguish from the business strikes.

TC

 

This is not true. With much experience it is easy to tell the difference. I can do it 99% of the time all day long as many others can. There is a certain type of sheen or gloss that gives them away. It is easeist on the reverse for some reason. By turing the coin in the light a mint set single will reflect light in a way no buisness srtike can. Combine that with strike and lack of flaws in the fields, (for most since the 1980's) a mint set coin stands out like a sore thumb.
It does take looking at thousands of mint sets though.

 

No really it's not that hard at all.

Now I forgot to add it's Lincoln Memorials from mint sets only that I'm talking about - I forget that often.


Someone please just take a mint set Lincoln Memorial and a BU one. Best if both are in 2x2's. Hold them under a lamp 6 inches to a foot away, rotate them and you will see a brightness or more glossy type (shiny)luster on the mint set coin, about three or four steps above the BU coin.
I think many will be able to see this if they do the above. It's not the strike, color, are how nice either is, it's that reflectiness. It's as if it's almost unnatural on the mint set coin.
But sometimes I forget to that many have trouble with LGDT, SMDT's and all kind of thing I now take for granted but I really do see it and see it rather easy. I wish you would try it for yourself and let us know.