What Process Makes Silver Take On Rainbow Hues?

jeffrose, that is one nice looking 1902-O. What kind of envelope was that stored in?

Not a dumb question at all, as I was wondering same exact thing. I assume they are, but like my dad says...."When you assume anything, you make a blank out of me an you", lol....

Jeff I agree as well, like comparing apples an oranges as that is one fantastic Roosevelt rainbow. Nice little early fifties coin collection, that is a great little set. The Ben 52 an 53 quarter have some nice golden toning, and the quarter around the date nice color. Also, the 1950 penny upper right hand corner has a nice red hue....

Due to the obvious medals used to make penny's, they can be a HIGHLY sought after high graded tone coin, penny or not. I see key date ones with a nice round colored rainbow that list for big money, an they are not to be underestimated for no silver or gold content, or just being a penny. The smart penny guys will come right along behind an scoop them up an say thank you very much, an do well when they pass them on down the road....

This one here is listed pretty low just under 30 bucks, looks great 1970 large date. I saw another sller with a small date one listed at 900 to start with similar toning an same 1970 date, an think it is this eller but it is just not listed right now. So they fluctuate big time in value....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RAINBOW-197...em43adac46e3

By the way Jeff, I saw a little glass like piece with coins sealed inside that reminded me of your set, as I was checking my local Pawn shops close to my house to see if they might have anything good in display cases to move. One guy I know pretty well had the piece I mention an it had a walking liberty, Barber quarter, Merc dime, Buffalo nickel, an Indian Head penny. Most just circulated, to fine or very good, not real nice examples, rubbed smooth so I past even though he wanted 30 for it, which seemed real fair. This guy does not put much out, he hoards like all of us, but he said he will get me what ever I am looking for, like 2012 eagles out the door 35, not to shabby.....

The shop down the road from my house two blocks away has some grade-able merc dimes listed at 10 each, a half canister Roosevelt's silver dimes (12) at 80 bucks, and a roll of 24 listed at 150. Also some Kennedy silver halves twenty each, lol. High dollar stuff, decent Morgan 1886 50 bucks, a couple colored ASE, one so brown it an case it look like it may have been sitting in a smokers lounge....

The did have some Canadian old coins, many on sell for 2 to 8 bucks each, but I didn't even bother to look them over as they were not nice enough in condition to catch my eye. Oh yeah one of those small George Washington commemorative rounds with him standing by his horse, and it looks like half oz. size, but was in a hurry an did not ask about it or price.....

Sorry to get off subject, but I also noticed the garage sale an estate sell signs are flying EVERYWHERE again. Never hurts to stop by in your route by these places when you have extra coin in pocket, as there is no telling what you may find, and you will never know if you never go....

One brand (Mehgrig?) of coin holders and original gubmint commem holders were notorious for bullseye toning, and dealers would buy them to duplicate that toning. I'm still waiting for a definition of AT that will distinguish between the first owner and the dealer putting coins in the same holder.

Obviously, the collector wasn't intentionally trying to tone coins, while the dealer was, but it's the same coins and the same holders, so how can they be distinguished?

Cheating how? You still need to define how to tell the difference, using only the evidence of the coin itself. Like with grading, we don't know what's happened to the coin, we can only decide based on what it looks like today.