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Lustre
by Steve Estes©
LUSTRE is the way light reflects off the microscopic flow lines of a coin.
Lustre is imparted to the surfaces of a coin at the moment of striking. Immense pressures used in the minting process create flow lines -- microscopic
lines that trace the path the metal took while filling recessed areas of the die.
A coin with full lustre is generally one with bright, shiny surfaces -- the lustre is created by light reflecting off its surfaces. If lustre has been disturbed, by cleaning or wear,
light reflects differently. A coin with disturbed lustre may appear bright, with little or no "cartwheel" effect.
A coin with great lustre looks back at you.
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