An optical coating has a siloxane polymer and noble metal particles. The coating has an index of refraction that is different for in-plane and out-of-plane. The coating has reverse optical dispersion within the visible wavelength range, and preferably a maximum absorption peak between 400-1000 nm wavelength range is greater than 700 nm. In one example the metal particles are noble metal nanorods having an average particle width of less than 400 nm.