The US Mint issued a press release today announcing the upcoming release of the 2011 Uncirculated Mint Set (much earlier than usual): http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1206 The satin finish is not longer used in these sets. However, if you read the description in the above link it states: "United States Mint uncirculated coins are struck on special presses using greater force than circulating coins, producing a sharp, intricately detailed image, and feature a brilliant finish." Questions: 1. Are you buying? 2. Are the coins in the uncirculated set considered business strikes now that satin finish is gone? 3. Will we be able to distinguish them from coins released to the banks, etc.? 4. Do you think the TPGs will now designate "brilliant finish" instead of "satin finish" or "SMS" on their holders? Thanks! TC
1. No 2. Yes 3. No 4. No Their description is the same as the description was for at least a few years back before 2005. If you go back further the coins simply WERE regular business strikes but they did take some of the early strikes from the dies. Go back even further and they were simply run of the mill business strikes.
I will buy one because I'm a live one. Hell, I'm thinking of buying a few silver proof sets because no one else is buying them. I'm ready for an institution.
1) YES 2) YES, with possibly a special designation. 3) Under slight magnification, unless it's an early strike (it would be more obvious) 4) Maybe, but probably not all TPGs. I'm wondering if the new finnish will increase sales. It seems that a lot of people aren't really fond of the satin finish sets. I have mixed feelings on them.
Having a liking for the Satin Finish Coins , really depends upon the Details of particular coin design . I'm not 100% either way. I also don't feel that with the Satin type finish being halted will have any great affect either way too, with regards to over-all sales .
I have to agree. I think it would have affected the sales in 2009 with the low mintages, had they gone to regular finishes at that time. Many sellers were trying to get each issue in their store as early as possible, and the satin ones didn't cut it for me.
I would like to also say , I am very pleasantly surprised with the quality of work coming out of the Mint in 2010 and 2011 so far . Earlier purchases had left me with strong critisism of the shoddy workmanship .
1. Yes i.m buying, I always get a unc. mint ste. 2. Tecnically they're not business strikes. They're struck with new dies on different presses under more pressure but --- see#3 3. If you happen to find a well struck gem in an early die state in a bank roll you probably couldn't tell a difference. 4. I don't think you'll see a special designation on the tpg labels but you never know, they're always coming up with something new to boost sales. By the way I'm very glad to see the end of satin finishes. They were trying to do a special finish without taking steps during the handling and packaging to insure quality and the end result was an uglier coin than a regular business strike. Every little nick and scrape that broke the satin finish stood out like a sore thumb.
