No more SF coins in 2011.

[eagames]

What do you think of this?


The United States Mint today announced that it is discontinuing the satin finish on numismatic uncirculated coins produced for the United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set® and other products. Instead, beginning in 2011, uncirculated-quality coins will feature a brilliant finish.

The United States Mint began using the satin finish for its uncirculated coins in 2005 to be consistent with other products in its portfolio, such as commemorative coins. The satin finish, however, highlights surface marks that inherently result from the coin-handling systems. Although the United States Mint modified the process to improve the coin appearance, there is no cost-effective way to completely eliminate the coin-on-coin contact that causes surface nicks. As a result, the United States Mint will revert back to the brilliant finish used on uncirculated coins prior to 2005. This change will result in more aesthetically pleasing coins with a finish that does not highlight surface flaws. It will only be featured on uncirculated-quality one-cent, 5-cent, dime, quarter-dollar, half-dollar and dollar coins.

[jfines69]

I am glad they are returning to the polished finish. The satin finish is easier to look at and tell that it is an unc but to me it takes away from the coins appearance!!!

[Dick]

I have neve liked the satin finish! it hides too many minor details.

[coop]

I've heard a lot about them, but can't say I've seen any difference in them. Just a hype thing to me.

[eagames]

I'm glad they stopped having 2 types.
It made it too much to try to keep up with. Having SF in mint sets and non SF in circulation (or a mix of both) made some people feel they needed both types for each coin.

Now it's back to normal, if you get BUs from circulation or get a mint set then you have the years set of coins other than proofs.

[coppercoins]

Coop - there's an obvious difference between them. I guarantee it's not a hype thing.

[coop]

It's just a hype thing to me. Meaning I don't care either way. It's just not something I'm interested in.

[ken]

I heard a rumor about this a few months back and have been getting all the satin finish coins I can on a hunch.

[eagames]

[Gabe]

So... this sentiment against the satin finish coins seems very similar to how people felt about matte Lincoln from 1909-1916. Maybe the satin lincolns will be as collectible and valuable in 100 years as the matte lincolns are today.

[Dick]

Gabe, I won't hold my breath!

[eagames]

To get rare like the MPLs we need to wait until billions of the new SF zincolns dissolve so there's only a few thousand of each year like the early MPLs.

LOL.... already a completely spot free zincoln is a rare coin so maybe it will happen sooner than we think

[Dick]

Ed, that is why i abandoned the zincolns! I couldn't tell which spot was the good one, LOL!

[jfines69]

With the cost of $0.017 cents to make a Zincoln they may be on the way out completely making what we do have really collectible... It's all up to congress!!!

[Dick]

IMHO, if that is the best the mint can do, for coins, cents in particular, then let it end,and stop wasting good money.
After the crash in '29, I could eat lunch in school, for a whole week, on a quarter!
Before Obama, the dollar was only worth about 17 cents. Now look at it. not worth the paper it's printed on!
We are getting close to the bottom, gents, so lets look around for something to hang onto, because if the bottom falls out, we are going to be in BIG trouble!
Not a Pessimist, just calling a spade a spade!