This is sort of a good question. However, if you take a look at a large amount of cents. You will quickly notice the older ones hold up a lot better then the newer ones. This really doesn't concern discussion you started so...
So let's use or imagination for a bit. It is 1910, you have a hand full of halves and quarters ready to spend on whatever catches your eye. Back in the day these coins were perceived just like modern day coins. They are just worth face value. The quarters and halves in you hand could have exchanged thousands of hands before they came to you. Each pocket, till, jar whatever they had rubbed on other metals. Slowly removing more and more and more detail.
This is easily seen with today's coins. Take a look at a quarter they wear down fast because they are used so much.
Don't know if that helped.