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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 1319581, member: 112&quot;]In one sentence you say that you don&#039;t know how I can say that the TPGs loosened up their grading standards. But in the very next sentence you say you cannot find any reason for the satin finish coins to grade higher.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, what does that tell you ? I know what it tells me. It tells me the TPGs loosened their grading standards at, or about at, the same time that the satin finish sets came out.</p><p><br /></p><p>And no a satin finish is not less prone to nicks and abrasions. If anything it&#039;s more prone to them. A satin finish coin has a much smoother and finer surface than a business strike does. The satin finish lies between a business strike and a Proof strike in that regard. You and everybody else knows that a Proof will show the tiniest of flaws a hundred times more than a business strike will. And that&#039;s because a Proof has a much smoother and finer surface finish than a business strike so it shows every little thing.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Two questions - what are the dates on these stunning coins ? And when did the pop reports start showing more 68s and 69s than ever before ?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>They are not considered Proofs, they are considered SMS or SP. Not a business strike, and not a Proof, but somewhere in between. Thus SMS or SP depending on which grading company slabbed the coin. As I recall, NGC used SMS and PCGS used SP. (special mint set vs specimen) Each TPG has to do something to set them apart from the other TPG. A silly concept but one that we are stuck with.</p><p><br /></p><p>Nor were they struck more than once. The only coins struck more than once are Proofs. They (the matte finish coins) do share some similarity with Proofs in that the dies were specially prepared to obtain the matte finish, but that&#039;s it.</p><p><br /></p><p>As to the difference between a satin finish and a matte finish - one is finer and smoother than the other. Think of it like this. There are 4 different surface finishes that have been used on coins over the years, and not just in moderns. These finishes go back to the early 1900&#039;s. The finishes are, and in order in regard to smoothness and fineness of the finish, business strike, matte, satin, and brilliant (typically Proof). The way these finishes are obtained is by the amount of preparation and the methods used in that preparation of primarily the dies, but sometimes also the preparation of the planchets. </p><p><br /></p><p>With business strikes there is little preparation or special care taken. The dies are hurriedly produced with a limited amount of polishing done to them and no extra steps taken to alter the surface finish beyond that. These coins are struck with the lowest pressure possible in order to maintain and extend die life. And each die will strike many, many coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>A matte finish is produced in much the same way at the beginning, the dies are polished. But then an extra step is taken. That polished die is then subjected to sand blasting, or bead blasting, or laser blasting (with the most modern ones) in order to produce a finish that is completely uniform. A finish that is a series of tiny dimples that cover the fields of the die. A higher striking pressure (than on business strikes) is used in order to make sure that matte finish is completely uniform. And the dies are only used for a limited time because metal flow quickly wears away the matte finish.</p><p><br /></p><p>A satin finish is produced much like that. The dies are first polished, then they too are subjected to that extra step of sand blasting, bead blasting, or laser blasting that is completely uniform and covers the entire fields of the die with that series of tiny dimples. A higher striking pressure (than on business strikes) is used in order to make sure that satin finish is completely uniform. And the dies are only used for a limited time because metal flow quickly wears away the satin finish.&nbsp; But - the dimples on a satin finish are smaller and finer than those on a matte finish. The easiest way I can explain it is that it&#039;s kind of like different grits of sandpaper.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now with none of these finishes do the planchets undergo any special preparation other than an extra washing step with the mattes and satins to remove any possible dirt or grit. And all are only struck once. </p><p><br /></p><p>Then we have the brilliant Proofs. Everything about Proofs is different. Extra care is taken with the design to ensure that it is as sharp and as distinct as possible. There is more detail on a Proof die than a business strike. And the outer edges of the die are sharpened and refined to produce those squared rims. And the die is polished way beyond what a business strike is to obtain that mirror. This is done by using a much finer diamond dust paste on the zinc plates than is used on business strikes and by polishing for longer time. Much higher striking pressures are used, and each coin is struck more than once. It is always struck at least twice but sometimes more than twice. And the planchets themselves are also polished and washed extra times to make sure the finished product will be as good as it can possibly be. And Proofs are struck one at a time and removed from the press one at a time so one coin never touches another.</p><p><br /></p><p>Something that throws a bit of confusion into the mix for some people is that in the past we have had Brilliant Proofs, Satin Proofs and Matte Proofs. So some equate a satin finish and a matte finish with a Proof. But this is not the case for there is still the difference between a Proof and a non Proof. Essentially you can have satin and matte Proofs, and you can have satin and matte non Proofs.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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