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Burnished ?

Started by Twowood,

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RMontgomery

RMontgomery

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  • Member
Posted

It used to be that burnished had but one meaning in numismatics, that being the mechanical polishing of the surfaces, typically on classic copper coins.

 

In more recent times, I'm sure you've seen the same word kicked around as it applies to certain silver eagles. The US Mint decided to use this term to describe/differentiate their collector version of silver eagles with the 2006-W and newer pieces from the regularly distributed 2007 and newer (without mintmark) bullion issues. Using the word "burnished" was another way to distinguish these very similarly made coins. The fact is that while traditionally the word burnished is used to describe a coin that has been polished after striking by those outside the mint, the modern designation merely describes what the mint does to all of their planchets before they are coined, and that is polishing or burnishing the blanks. These coins end up having extremely similar surface qualities as those of any other issue. In a word, marketing.

 

Rick Montgomery

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