Abstract: A guide wire including a radiopaque distal region having a wear resistant surface suitable for carrying the rotating drive shaft of an atherectomy device. One guide wire is formed of a stainless steel shaft having a radiopaque layer over the distal region, the radiopaque layer including a harder gold alloy over softer gold or a gold alloy layer. The harder gold alloy provides a harder, less flexible, wear resistant surface while the softer gold layer provides a softer, more flexible, less wear resistant surface. Limiting the thickness of a harder gold alloy layer can limit problems caused by flexing the distal region and problems increased by residual stresses existing within the layer. One distal radiopaque layer includes alternating layers of harder and softer gold alloys. Another distal radiopaque layer increases flexibility by having longitudinally discontinuous harder gold alloy bands, such as rings or a helical spiral.