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Replies: 19 / Views: 792 |
Valued Member
United States
251 Posts |
HI all SO I scored my second proof coin, the Massachusetts State Quarter (since I live there). I got it so cheap, I felt bad about it. Now, it is really nice BUT there seems to be something wrong with it... The edge/lip is nice and silver, BUT the front and back have an overall tan-brown hue! While it isn't exactly ugly, it isn't exactly what I expected, either. From what I have learned and seen on the forum about toning, this seems too uniform and even. It reminds me of something masked then clear-coated, and the clear yellowed with age. I did look at the NGC website and they state that their slabs are NOT air/water tight. What is going on here? Is this indeed toning? If so, why would it not effect the edge/lip? How can it occur so evenly? Is it a good thing I didn't pay much for it because if this? Befuddled...  (please excuse the photos, I had a hard time with them)   Edited by Nells250 11/25/2020 9:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
952 Posts |
It's either toning or brown reflection from the table it's sitting on.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
37260 Posts |
Looks like just toning. I would like to see a photo with a (18% gray scale) gray background and the label covered. John1 
( I'm no pro, it's just my humble opinion ) Searched 5+ Million Cents Since 1971
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5411 Posts |
That is a beautiful toning .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2421 Posts |
Appears to be toning--not that uncommon with clad proofs. Addressing the white balance issue might remove a smidge of the warm tone, but I believe the toning is there nonetheless.
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Valued Member
United States
251 Posts |
Quote: ... or brown reflection from the table it's sitting on. Soooo... I guess my EYES are also effected by the table?  I need to try and take a pic when (if) the SUN comes out today, without any flash or artificial lighting. BUT so far it IS toning, and NOT unusual? I assumed slabs were indeed air-tight! This toning phenomena is nutty... EDIT: I actually DID correct the white balance a bit as the original photos were too blue. Again, I will try again when natural lighting is better.
Edited by Nells250 11/26/2020 11:22 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
952 Posts |
Quote:Soooo... I guess my EYES are also effected by the table?  No but if your eyes are brown, there's your answer. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
682 Posts |
Toning can occur while in the proof set holder, it's not completely airtight.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17170 Posts |
Quote: BUT so far it IS toning, and NOT unusual? I assumed slabs were indeed air-tight!
Slabs are NOT completely airtight, and the coin could have already been toned when it was slabbed. Personally I think it looks very nice. The toning is even and not splotchy,and not overwhelming. It just adds a bit of color to the coin.
Gary Schmidt
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Valued Member
United States
251 Posts |
MOS0239 - (rimshot) ;-) The sun still isn't out today so I probably still can't get a better photo. I did look around The 'Bay yesterday after turkey and there are indeed many proof quarters that seem to have at least similar toning, but this one is so darn even! I wonder... is there anything in the NGC code that can help with figuring out roughly when a coin is graded? That would (maybe) help with what Conder101 said, that maybe it was already toned when slabbed. EDIT: https://www.NGCcoin.com/certlookup/4304196-046/69/Is it me, or does it almost look toned in their reference images? Did that hologram decal even exist in 2000?
Edited by Nells250 11/27/2020 3:00 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17170 Posts |
It does look toned in the NGC image, and no that hologram was not in use in 2000, but the coin could have been slabbed long after 2000.
Gary Schmidt
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1276 Posts |
my 1999, 2000 2001 silver proof sets all toned in a manner like this, I assume the other sets will follow as well. the mirrored fields will tone different from the frosted devices (including the rim edge which is frosted too). And it's toned on NGC look up, you can see it on the left of the state although they didn't highlight the toning and took a dark picture instead. so it was like that when they slabbed it. it doesn't hurt anything at all. mine started as a slight milky haze you could see tilting in light, and developed to a yellowish/brown which will develop further colors as time progresses and allowed to continue, this stage is one of the ugliest really and where people back out of toning and dip them. people sleep through this usually and come back in a decade or so more and look again or find them toned up further along than this, this is early still and only year 20 :) up to you, dipping would remove it, you could stop it where it is with climate control and better storage practices to remove sulfur, or air, or moisture from it's storage environment. or you can let it go and do it's thing as nature intended it to and check back later and see where it is. and technically the toning isn't "even". It's just not "spotty" at all which is really good, but it is darker toward the edge of the coin than the center, which is totally normal. as the toning gets thicker it will reflect different colors from wavelengths of light off the surfaces. It won't just go from this gold/yellow/brown to black, it "should" kick over to blue, red and purple around the rim in towards the center next but depends on what the contaminant was that started it (usually sulfur and some mild humidity). Nothing wrong here at all, unless you just personally don't like it, which is a preference. eventually this will color up though and get even better with time. Also I'd like to add it's well centered, a lot of time the toning forms from one direction inward or one side, so the "toning ring" is partial or seems to be off centered.
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Valued Member
United States
251 Posts |
Believe it or not, every single time I think about trying to get a better pic to share in NATURAL LIGHT, it is either nigh time or raining outside! But the added info is useful. BIGKINGDOM: I sorta' don't like the toning... BUT the fact it is rather even and not splotchy, and I am on a super-low budget, and STOLE the coin (less than 1$ + shipping), I guess I should keep it! I emailed NGC asking if their numbers at all reflect the date the coin was slabbed. They asked me for the # (which stupid me forgot to give them) and I am waiting for a reply. Stay tuned...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17170 Posts |
It used to be they would not tell you when a particular coin was slabbed but they have been getting better at providing that information on request.
Gary Schmidt
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Valued Member
United States
251 Posts |
Wellp you are right, they didn't tell me anything you guys and their site didn't already tell me. Oh well, I think we can assume it was slabbed well after 2000. I just thought perhaps "toned" was included on the tags. Perhaps they only do this for $$ coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
682 Posts |
As far as I know, they do not do use that designation on any coins.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 792 |
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