polished vs. satin vs. foggy vs. shiny plating

[+wenzelbub]

If I look at my samples it looks like this:

 

- gold (or polished gold): polished on first and second level

- foggy gold: polished first level and foggy second level

- satin gold: "foggy" first and second level

 

What is shiny plating? Mint told me it does not tarnish and should be ussed instead of satin gold. So satin and shiny looks like same?

 

If I look at Bewitched Geocoin "Gold + Foggy Gold" Photo, isn't this only a foggy gold plating?

What is the difference between first level foggy gold and first level polished gold?

 

[+AtlantaGal]

Foggy Gold & Satin Gold are the same finish. Just depends on the mint and their terminology. Foggy gold has a matte finish and polished/shiny does not.

[+Mar-elendili]

From what I have seen when ordering some samples for my Monster-in-a-Box coin, foggy was the same as sandblasted, with the first level shiny and the recessed parts had that matte finish. I wanted a full satin finish but it seemed like the company I had them minted with did not offer it...

[+Jackalgirl]

I actually asked my mint folks this as it came up during plans for the Mini-Doubloons this year. Foggy and Satin are actually different; the Satin finish is achieved during the plating process itself, and the Foggy finish is done as a post-plating process. Exactly how it's done or what in particular is being done, I'm not sure. I'm guessing that with the Satin finish, something's done so that the metal adheres with a matte, rather than shiny, finish, and that the Foggy plating is done with very fine-grit sandblasting (and then they polish the raised areas smooth again). Again, that's just my guess for now. Also, your mileage may vary -- different mints may do different things and give them similar names.