I have found that many of the very modern proof US coins have absolutely pervading cameo effect. The cameo is above and beyond anything that was observed even in the 1990s and certainly before. The cameo effect is two-fold. Firstly, the fields have a liquid/glassy appearance. Secondly, the devices have a frosty or satiny appearance. This juxtaposition creates a very striking image indeed. I just wanted to share a few images of a 2011-S Lincoln cent, graded PR70DCAM by PCGS. You can see the cameo effect, and with some zooming (shown) you can see the little "nodules" that give the modern proofs more of a satiny or grainy cameo than their older counterparts.
It significantly improved the detail of the up-close shots by using diffused light. I just reshot them.
So the modern proofs are created with laser etching instead of the standard sandblasting technique. The introduction of this method was staggered across series, but as an example, below are some pictures I took of Roosevelt proof dimes. You can see QUITE a difference in the look of the finish on the 2011 dime. On another forum, one of the members coined this finish the "Snakeskin" look. The close up photos are zoomed in to the nostril area of the coin.
I never thought that they had so much texture on the raised surfaces. Kinda reminds me of the old popcorn asbestos ceilings.
