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Message:: [QUOTE="vrt, post: 626446, member: 15308"]What is coin luster I remember how the idea of luster was confusing to me couple years back. physics-fan3.14's and GDJMSP's posts are really useful and not just for beginners. GDJMSP's explanaition of how metal flows reminded me that my major was physics and now I have to ask a stupid question - What is the luster? I see 2 options here. 1. luster is the specific difusion of light. This option is supported by the mint's definition: "the dull, frosty, or satiny shine found on uncirculated coins". Discussion of different types of luster also based on this definition. This option has a dangerous effect - if your coin is locked in a safe you cannot say it has any luster - there is no light difusion without the light. 2. luster is the irregularities on the coin serface that cause the specific difusion of light. I have to go with this option (as a phisysist and as a collector who would not except the idea that his/her coins lose their luster at night). In this case the luster is not "shine" or "light difusion" - then it is hard to say that luster can be "booming" or "dull", right? Thank you.[/QUOTE]