I guess it's a matter of opinion, but in my HO, of the 2012 proof sets, I think the Washington profile on the quarters really look washed out with the frosted image. To me, for a proof coin, this is highly undesirable for a U.S. quality coin. Can't we do better ? In comparison the Lincoln - Jefferson - Roosevelt & Kennedy are outstanding with fine details.
With the method the US Mint now uses to "artificially frost" these proof coins, they might as well paint it on with stencils. Can you guess that I'm not a real big fan of current proof sets and their "laser etching" technology? If anything at all, they've taken "One Giant Leap" backwards!
What? I pay extra for cameos. With the huge number of proof sets (and other collector and bullion) being produced, I'm a bit impressed with the quality that the mint puts out. The design just leaves a lot to be desired. I'm sure that it is a energy saving measure of the mint, but the extremely thin relief of modern coins is just ugly to me.
Cameo's and frost are OK. It's just the lack of image on the Washington profile that upsets me. There is no detail such as shown on the Lincoln - Jefferson - Rosy & Kennedy which are also frosted.
TRUE D/CAMs look great. Modern ones...meh. But IMHO they're still okay. And I thought washington quareters never had much detail to start with (at least on the obverse)?
Washington obverse on the state quarters looks much better than that on the parks, IMHO. I like the hair detail better.
Read Brandon's thread on the NGC forum, it may change your mind. From Frost to Snakeskin™ -- US Proof Coins 2006-2010
The new method is far too course for my tastes. You shouldn't really be able to see any courseness for a nice frosted, cameo IMO.
never liked any of the frost of any sort since it was first introduced. waste of effort and needless destruction of a good surface to me. Yuck
