Just browsing the 'bay and saw this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WALKING-LIBERTY-2002-SILVER-DOLLAR-HAS-A-COLO-SHINE-TO-THE-LIBERTY-AND-EAGLE-/160746145774?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item256d3787ee#ht_500wt_1129 and thought to myself "HOW?" I know it is Post Mint but I think it as pretty cool. My question is just how? Sticker? Artificial Toning? I do like the hologram look on it though. Here's my theory What's yours?
Nothing more than an ASE with painted device. Just like the red, white, & blue ones that never seem to carry their initial premium in the secondary market. Some kind of luminescent Pearl fingernail Polish or something.
Didn't you read the title of the auction? It's a "Colo Shine", a well known descriptive term which has been in use for years among the numismatic community.
I hope you're joking Jim, because if you aren't then I need to get out more cuz this is the first time I've ever seen the term.
I don't know how they do it. If you begin with a mirrored surface (like that of an inverse proof AE, then you could simply deposit a thin layer on the mirror to cause interference (like a thin oil film on water). http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/23544 I suspect that you would mask the field portions of the coin & deposit a thin layer to the balance of the coin using a chemical process or a vapor deposition process. It may be that you don't even need to mask the field areas because they are non-reflective on the inverse proof coins. Alternately, you could replicate or adhesively place a diffraction pattern on the devices and cause a similar optical affect.
A sticker would be my first thought. A laser would be a distant second (not sure if you can make a hologram on silver or not).
Thanks for the answers guys. I guess it is just something of the 'cool factor' not worth much. I knew it was artificial because I have seen a few, but was curious of the methods.
not out you need to stay indoors more often. retirement is a calling dear GD look at me i am retired and happy
