I have a collection of modern Jefferson nickel proofs and I was just reviewing them when I noticed a big change in 2010. I was wondering if anyone else has talked about this? Proofs of the 90's, and 2000's through the 2004-05 commemoratives show a consistent texture in the Jefferson portrait. This is a very fine-grained sandy texture on the frosted devices. Looking through a 16x lens, I can see this very fine sandy look consistently through 2009. But in 2010, there is a startling change. The sandy texture becomes much more coarse. It's almost as if the devices are made of sandpaper. This gives the devices a sparkling frosted look, but it's due to the very coarse sandy texture, I assume from the original dies. Does anyone know of a Mint document that describes this change in the procedure for making modern proofs? I checked my Kennedy collection and noticed the same thing, and the same effect is also seen on the new quarters. If you look at Jefferson proofs for 2009 and 2010 side by side, even without any lens and look at it with the naked eye, the difference in luster is striking. The new procedure has been in place since 2010 and I just got my 2013 Kennedy and it's still going strong for this year. Can anyone enlighten me about this new type of proof finish? Thanks. Steve
Star Trek stuff: etching with acids and lasers and stuff. One of the gurus will know exactly how it's done, probably Doug.
Thanks geekpryde for the above link to Collector's Society board. That's exactly the information that I needed. The poster on that board doesn't like the new proofs and details his reasons. I don't know what to think about the new proofs, they're just different. But I sure appreciate my older proofs. Would the Mint change their procedure if collector's complained about it? They have listened to us in the past.
