How To Tone A Morgan Nicely

Sorry, but you are wrong. The reason why see you so many fabulously toned Morgans in comparison to other denominations is simple- millions of Morgan dollars were minted, piled in $1000 face value canvas bags, and shoved in Treasury vaults for several decades. No other denomination has received that type of treatment in those kind of numbers.

The key to the toning was the canvas bags, the fabric had a sulfur content which varied from bag to bag. Some bags could tone coins while others could not. The coins close to or touching the canvas toned the most and the most desirable toners have a cloth pattern from the canvas bags. Sure, alot of Morgans have been artificially toned and ruined in the process, ebay is full of that kind of dreck. However, the existence of AT Morgans has no bearing on the very real existence of natural rainbow toned Morgans.

This is a 1904 Morgan put into a regular Business envelope on the 30th of November 2009. (This coin was blast-white when I started).

It also has to do with how the planchets were prepared also. You can put a Peace dollar and a Morgan side by side and the Morgan will have more ill effects from the environment than the Peace dollar will just because of the way they prepared the planchets on the Morgans. Its hard to find a 1921 Morgan rainbow toned and I am guessing that is because of the way they prepared those as well

I would argue that the effect is not the same because the chemistry is definitely not the same. The kinetics of a slow undisturbed oxidation reaction in a Treasury vault full of Morgan bags is impossible to replicate on a contracted timeline. When reaction kinetics differ, the outcome also differs.

Bryan brought up a very good point that I failed to mention in my late night post. Besides the bags, there was something else special about Morgans that allowed them to tone. Yes, Peace dollars did not have as much long term storage as did Morgans but there were still many bags of them that sat until the 1960s. However, a beautifully toned Peace dollar is a true rarity and can bring huge money. Most Peace dollars that are toned have a more mottled appearance to them. Another key to the toning issue was planchet preparation, there was some difference between the two dollars and the preparation of the Morgans allowed them to tone in wonderful hues. It is also interesting to note that 1921 Morgans(after a 16 year mintage hiatus) rarely have nice toning as well, those planchets were more than likely prepared in a similar manner to Peace dollar planchets instead of 1878-1904 Morgans.

I understand coins can be toned in holders so don't assume anything just because of the slab. Natural rainbow toning follows a specific color sequence. It also has depth reaching inside denticles and devices. Since a lot of early paper had high amounts of sulfer it toned rolled coins, coins in envelopes, and ring toned coins in early holders. But if the toning is so bright it leaves you wondering, and I have seen slabbed ones like you speak of, then pass on them. There are some great artists out there that work on small canvas's.

Moe145, did you continue to keep that Morgan in the envelope after posting those pictures about a year ago?

If so, I'd like to know what it looks like about now.