St. Gauden Double Eagle replica should be shiny/Proof?

Bought a replica of the famed 1933 double Eagle for fun. It came, and it looks "dull". I wrote to the company, asking about: 1) 'bronze-colored' (theirs) vs "gold-colored" (what I expected; is it really golf coated? ), 2) dull vs. "proof/mirror/cameo/etc", and they said:

"... This coin is slightly different than the version by GACC. However, we feel that it is a higher quality replica, since the 1933 $20 Saint-Gaudens coin was never struck in proof format--only business strike (frosty). The actual production of the piece is also more refined. If you were to compare the proof version next to the non-mirrored coin, you would see the difference. Each piece is truly plated in 24k gold (guaranteed)."

Are they telling the truth or blowing smoke up my... Well, you get the idea.

 

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I get what their saying. I do believe it is 24k gold plated (Only costs a few cents or so per coin to do). Being that it is of the 1933, if I was looking for a nice reproduction, I would want it to be as close to the real deal and a frosty look would be ideal. Would you mind posting a picture? As the picture will tell more about the true color which if it does look brass would be slightly disappointing but hey, I can't pay the $7 million for the real deal

 

You didn't expect a plated replica to be identical to an actual coin with regards to OML, sharpness of details, or any other comparison, did you?

 

No, but judging by pictures on several websites, I expected more than what I received.

 

Here.

 

See, you're doing this just for fun, as you stated in your OP Doug.

Now imagine people who know absolutely nothing about coins and numismatics, and buy up these junky replicas, thinking they're getting something other than what they are.

Case in point: I was Christmas shopping the other day, and was at the local pawn shop looking at some old world German steins they recently acquired; was looking for something for my brother.

Guy comes in with the copy Buffalo gold plated coin and wanted $2000 for it. What he didn't realize is this isn't a genuine U.S. Mint AGB and is only plated with gold and not even worth $5. But he said he was sure they were selling the real deal on the HSN. I said to him that gold is currently around $1200 an ounce, there is no way he would find a 1 oz. gold round for $19.95 plus $4.95 S&H.

Point being, you got what you paid for.

But it is only for fun