There is no doubt that when you mint a coin that each element that goes into designing then producing that coin mean everything to each other. When we talk elements we mean the 2D detail, 3D rises, colors, shape, edging, and plating amongst others. The most important one that gets little consideration is plating. The plating is the metal skin you give the brass slug that underlines your entire canvas if you will. There are many kinds of plating to choose from. In fact we can talk about two distinct families of plating’s to keep it broad.

The first family of plating we will cover at the antiques. The antiques give you a dull or matte finish on the coin which will give you no reflection when you look at it. These plating’s also make the coin feel a little older or classy in many cases. The antiques are truly a beautiful however, they come with one disadvantage. The downside is they can not be dual toned with another shade of metal like high polish plating can be. So what are these plating’s?

• Antique Silver/Nickel
• Antique Brass
• Antique Gold
• Antique Copper

There are 5 main ones as you can see in the list (counting nickel and silver separately, but the yield the same basic result). Each have the own hue and position in the coin world. When you are doing your artwork on what you would like, take the time to consider which plating will enhance your design. Copper is a fairly new and used plating that many companies haven’t fully experimented with. It’s not big on the market because it takes a special coin to carry that bright copper look.

Another family of plating’s are the opposites of the antiques. They are the high polished family of plating’s. They contain much of the same as we have seen in the dull form however they can be used in conjunction with one another. This is one of the key factors as there is no metal paint replacements. Dual or even a tri-plated coin brings something unique to the table and if used correctly can make a coins worth jump. The plating’s we see used in the hobby are:

• High Polish Nickel/Silver
• High Polish Gold
• High Polish Copper
• High Polish Black Nickel

You will notice in this family you will find high polished brass missing but we gain a new family member. Black nickel plating is a beautiful and sleek looking black color that gives a coin a very special look. Though it is seldom used, it is amazing when applied in the right context such as the hobby introduction of the tri-plated Special Forces coin. The Special Forces coin keeps that “dark and hidden feel” with the black nickel and it was enhanced with silver and gold highlights. So this is one of the biggest advances in plating’s we have seen in the recent years.

You are able to use these plating’s with one another, however, most minting facilities will not do anything beyond a dual plating. Tri-plating or better becomes very difficult to achieve but some factories will put their best foot forward to accommodate a customer. When designing it’s beneficial to have several coins with different plating’s at your disposal so you can figure out what will make your coin shine.

There is one unique twist to plating that we should cover although it’s not the plating that gives the effect rather the texture. Micro sandblasting can not only add texture but change the way a plating is presented. It’s almost like a plasma plating because the high polish plating’s become a matte texture look. It’s a great enhancement to your plating.

No matter what you feel about a certain kind of plating there is always a time and place for each. No what you want to do with the coin and how the end result should look. Get second opinions if needed and we wish you the best luck on your next mint.

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