The United States Mint has released the details of a new frosting technique that it will be applying to proof commemorative coins. The first coins to receive this new proof finish are the 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Proof Silver Dollar and The 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Proof $5 Gold Coin. The previous method of applying laser frosting to the dies in order to achieve the cameo contrast resulted in very grainy surface that in effect destroyed some of the design's finer details. This new process selectively paints the die with varying degrees of frost that is applied via a high-powered laser.

The image on the left shows the areas on the new 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Proof Silver Dollar that received the different types of finishes. The reverse on the coin illustrates this best because it uses four different types of finishes. The field (white) is highly polished using felt polishing pads. The lettering, foreground and some design elements (gray) are dark or heavily frosted. A light, not so grainy, frosting is used on the lamp (pink), and the crest on the lamp is accentuated by using a light polishing (blue).

To read the complete article, see:U.S. Mint Introduces New Laser Frosting for Proof Coins(coins.about.com/od/uscoins/tp/US-Mint-Introduces-New-Laser-Frosting-For-Proof-Coins.htm)