Enhanced Uncirculated finish offers special look

This is the fifth part of a feature story on finishes used on U.S. coins that first appeared in the June 6, 2016, Monthly issue of Coin World:

What the U.S. Mint refers to as its Enhanced Uncirculated finish was introduced in 2013 on a 2013-W American Eagle silver dollar.

Customer feedback that frosting on Proof coin devices set against mirrored fields is too heavy on the main design devices prompted further research and development at the Philadelphia Mint regarding its laser-frosting technology. The thick frosting often reduces the visibility of or seems to obliterate specific design details, critics claimed. 

U.S. Mint officials responded that design details weren’t being obliterated, but that the heavy frosting absorbed the light in such a way as to create that appearance.

Although the Enhanced Uncirculated American Eagle has some characteristics similar to those on Proof coins — it contains selectively frosted areas and was struck more than one time — the Mint does not consider it a Proof coin. 

According to U.S. Mint officials, “Most of our premium coins, both Uncirculated and Proof, are struck multiple times on specially prepared dies. Therefore, using the number of strikes is not always an indicator of what is Proof and what is Uncirculated.”

The fields on the Enhanced Uncirculated coins’ obverse and reverse have a light frosted finish. 

Each side of the Enhanced Uncirculated American Eagle coin also has two other finishes. 

On the obverse of the coin, a brilliant polished finish was executed on the mountains, what would be the red stripes and blue field of the United States flag, the date and Liberty’s sandals. The remaining elements and lettering on the obverse have the Mint’s standard heavy frosted finish. 

On the reverse, the ribbon in the eagle’s beak, alternate stripes in the shield, the arrows and the oak branch all have a brilliant polished finish. The lettering and other design elements on the reverse have the heavy frosted finish. 

Examples of the enhancing team’s handiwork can also be found on the Proof 2013-W 5-Star Generals gold $5 half eagle and the Proof 2013-P 5-Star Generals silver dollar. The Proof 2013-S 5-Star Generals copper-nickel clad half dollar was struck using the Cameo Proof finish, according to U.S. Mint officials. Multiple finishes have appeared on all three denominations of Proof commemorative coins when offered since then. 

Other Enhanced Uncirculated coins issued by the U.S. Mint include:

??2014-S Kennedy silver half dollar, one of seven Kennedy half dollars in different compositions and finishes to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy half dollar, part of the four-coin set mentioned under the Reverse Proofs subheading in this article.

??2014-D Native American dollar, offered in the 2014 American $1 Coin & Currency set at $14.95 per set, with a 50,000 product limit, which sold out. 

??2015-W Native American dollar, offered in the 2015 American $1 Coin and Currency set, with a product limit of 90,000 sets at $14.95 each. As of April 3, 2016, sales reached 87,090 sets. The product is still offered from the U.S. Mint.

The Enhanced Uncirculated Native American dollars, according to U.S. Mint officials, are struck with dies that had details wire-brushed for brilliance or laser-frosted for contrast.


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