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<p>[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 624874, member: 112"]I understand what you are asking, and it is a trap that too many fall into when trying to explain or understand luster and what creates it. However, there is strategic point that is undeniable and completely disproves the theory of wear on the die being the cause of luster. It is a simple thing, and because it is so simple it is often overlooked. It is what I said earlier - coins struck with new dies have amazing luster, and yet these dies have <u>no wear lines etched into them</u>. So if wear on the die was the cause - this would not be possible.</p><p><br /></p><p>But there are several possible reasons for the variation in quality of luster. And for the purposes of this discussion I am making the assumption that all coins being discussed are Mint State. </p><p><br /></p><p>First of all one must realize that when comparing luster on any 2 given coins that you have to remember that you are only looking at these coins as they are now in the present time. And the way they look now, today, is almost certainly <b>not</b> the way they looked when they were freshly minted.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, to answer your question all one has to do is consider what things there are that can cause the quality of luster on any given coin to diminish or change. These things are all well known but seldom considered when these discussions arise. Quality of luster can be changed by the following - </p><p><br /></p><p>1 - Toning, we all know that toning can mute luster in its early and intermediate stages. Later, as the toning progresses and eventually turns into corrosion, luster can even be totally destroyed.</p><p><br /></p><p>2 - Dipping, again it is undisputed that dipping a coin reduces the quality of luster on any coin. True, a properly dipped coin retains much of its original luster, but some of it is undeniably taken away by the acid in the dip solution.</p><p><br /></p><p>3 - Handling, many things are covered by this single term for the purpose of my comments - handling at the mint as the coins fall into the hopper and are later transferred into bags; friction imparted to the coin in the mint bags and during the transport of these bags, roll friction, cabinet friction, and friction imparted to the coins in actual circulation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now these are all things that happen to a coin after it is minted. But let us not forget that there are also things that change during the life of a coin die, and all of these things have a direct impact on the quality of luster that any given coin has.</p><p><br /></p><p>During the course of a die's life the pressure being used to strike coins may change for as the dies wear the pressure may be turned up slightly in an effort to achieve fully struck coins. </p><p><br /></p><p>The spacing of the dies may also change minutely during life of the dies. This may be intentional or completely unintentional, for as the presses run through their cycle things move, spacing changes, and the dies are adjusted.</p><p><br /></p><p>Die polishing, as we all know dies were routinely removed from the presses after a period of use, polished and then used again. This polishing affects the quality of luster greatly. And the simple fact that the dies were removed from the presses and then re-inserted for additional use changes everything in regard to the quality of luster imparted to the coins. For the pressure setting may not be exactly the same, the spacing is bound to be different, in fact has to be different. For as the dies wear and/or are polished the spacing between them has to change because of the loss of surface metal. This may be a minute measurement, but it is absolutely a change. And any change in die spacing is going to have an effect on the quality of luster imparted to the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>But keep in mind, I am most definitely not saying that wear on a die has no effect on luster, it most certainly does. But wear on a die is not the cause of luster. Metal flow is.</p><p><br /></p><p>To prove this to yourself all one has to do is think of one thing - the highest graded coins there are. I am talking about coins that have completely full details; coins that are relatively, if not completely, mark free; coins that have booming luster that jumps out at you; coins that have a semi-Proof Like surface; in almost every case these are EDS coins, coins struck with dies that have no wear and show no sign of die deterioration.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 624874, member: 112"]I understand what you are asking, and it is a trap that too many fall into when trying to explain or understand luster and what creates it. However, there is strategic point that is undeniable and completely disproves the theory of wear on the die being the cause of luster. It is a simple thing, and because it is so simple it is often overlooked. It is what I said earlier - coins struck with new dies have amazing luster, and yet these dies have [U]no wear lines etched into them[/U]. So if wear on the die was the cause - this would not be possible. But there are several possible reasons for the variation in quality of luster. And for the purposes of this discussion I am making the assumption that all coins being discussed are Mint State. First of all one must realize that when comparing luster on any 2 given coins that you have to remember that you are only looking at these coins as they are now in the present time. And the way they look now, today, is almost certainly [B]not[/B] the way they looked when they were freshly minted. So, to answer your question all one has to do is consider what things there are that can cause the quality of luster on any given coin to diminish or change. These things are all well known but seldom considered when these discussions arise. Quality of luster can be changed by the following - 1 - Toning, we all know that toning can mute luster in its early and intermediate stages. Later, as the toning progresses and eventually turns into corrosion, luster can even be totally destroyed. 2 - Dipping, again it is undisputed that dipping a coin reduces the quality of luster on any coin. True, a properly dipped coin retains much of its original luster, but some of it is undeniably taken away by the acid in the dip solution. 3 - Handling, many things are covered by this single term for the purpose of my comments - handling at the mint as the coins fall into the hopper and are later transferred into bags; friction imparted to the coin in the mint bags and during the transport of these bags, roll friction, cabinet friction, and friction imparted to the coins in actual circulation. Now these are all things that happen to a coin after it is minted. But let us not forget that there are also things that change during the life of a coin die, and all of these things have a direct impact on the quality of luster that any given coin has. During the course of a die's life the pressure being used to strike coins may change for as the dies wear the pressure may be turned up slightly in an effort to achieve fully struck coins. The spacing of the dies may also change minutely during life of the dies. This may be intentional or completely unintentional, for as the presses run through their cycle things move, spacing changes, and the dies are adjusted. Die polishing, as we all know dies were routinely removed from the presses after a period of use, polished and then used again. This polishing affects the quality of luster greatly. And the simple fact that the dies were removed from the presses and then re-inserted for additional use changes everything in regard to the quality of luster imparted to the coins. For the pressure setting may not be exactly the same, the spacing is bound to be different, in fact has to be different. For as the dies wear and/or are polished the spacing between them has to change because of the loss of surface metal. This may be a minute measurement, but it is absolutely a change. And any change in die spacing is going to have an effect on the quality of luster imparted to the coins. But keep in mind, I am most definitely not saying that wear on a die has no effect on luster, it most certainly does. But wear on a die is not the cause of luster. Metal flow is. To prove this to yourself all one has to do is think of one thing - the highest graded coins there are. I am talking about coins that have completely full details; coins that are relatively, if not completely, mark free; coins that have booming luster that jumps out at you; coins that have a semi-Proof Like surface; in almost every case these are EDS coins, coins struck with dies that have no wear and show no sign of die deterioration.[/QUOTE]
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