What’s the difference between hard and soft enamel?
Soft enamel is applied to the coin or product; the excess is wiped off, and allowed to “air dry.” It does not fill the areas to the level of the raised metal. Since there’s no hardening process, if you take a sharp object, you can scratch through it to the metal below the paint. It produces what we term a “good coin.” In some cases a layer of clear epoxy is applied over the coin to help protect the finish. Hard enamel uses a different process. The areas that are colored are actually overfilled with enamel, and then the coins/product are “baked” to harden it to a nearly ceramic hardness. They are then ground/polished flat, and then plated with the metal. Hard enamel can be scratched, but will not go through the metal below. Hard enamel gives the cleanest, crispest detail on a coin/product, and since it’s hardened, epoxy isn’t needed to protect the finish. Hard enamel produces what we term a “superior coin”.
