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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,240 |
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
Still have quite a bit to learn about coins, varieties, values, etc.. but one thing I was curious about is toning of coins...
I have a large amount of Lincoln Cents I am going through and I have found a bunch of them so far that appear to have different colors on them when looked at under light, not super bright but easy to see and in mutltiple colors. I am guessing this is not toning but more a "weathered" look, but I wanted to ask those of you with experience what exactly toning is vs colors I see on many of these cents...
Value wise, what makes the coin more valuable when toned?
Thanks ahead of time!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Let's start with some pics.  to the CCF! |
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Valued Member
United States
135 Posts |
We would love to see some photos of what you're talking about! :)
In the case of Lincoln cents, they are made of copper and have a reddish color, but can oxidize, meaning they can turn, brown, really dark brown, and even blue/green. It happens when the copper reacts with the oxygen in the air. This happens all the time and usually decreases the value of the coin. Don't let that happen to your copper coins.
What I think you're talking about is toning, where chemicals in the air react with the metal of the coin and create a layer of compound(s). Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing depends on the collector and its eye appeal. It can have a wide range of colors. It could be one color, it could be a rainbow, any pattern, whatever. Toning is done by nature and thus can be random looking.
Are the coins you have in question colors other than red, red-brown, or brown? Are they pink, blue, green, in a pretty way?
We would love to see photos of what you have. It can help out a lot, who knows, maybe you've got your hands on something quite valuable.
[Note: Don't artificially tone your coins]
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Start with the Glossary,left side of page. John1  |
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Moderator
Australia
16804 Posts |
"Toning" is what coin collectors call the thin layer of oxides and corrosion by-products that form on the surface of a typical piece of metal when exposed to Earth's atmosphere. So yes, any "colours" you are seeing that isn't the colour of the metal that the coin originally had when it left the mint, is "toning".
The value added by toning is one of the more subjective areas of coin collecting. Some collectors like their coins to be "blast white", with no or very minimal toning; others like the "rainbow colours" which a thin film of corrosion products on a coin's surface can sometimes generate, while others prefer the "look of age" that some circulated coins get (eg. the "circulation cameo" effect).
That being said, there is some types of toning that are universally regarded as "ugly". Black spots, called "carbon spots", usually caused by someone coughing or sneezing over their coins, is always frowned upon. Black toning, generally, is disliked. Thick green powdery toning on copper coins is considered "corrosion" and devalues a coin.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
There are people that sort of love toning on coins and then there are people that don't. For those that do, the prices go up. |
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Valued Member
 United States
60 Posts |
OK, I will get some photos together and list them here....should have them tomorrow....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you!
An answer to your question has been summed up by the previous comments. With that said I'd like to first expand on the responses with what is known as artificial toning, or AT which you'll sometimes encounter. It's pretty much as it sounds, a chemical agent of some sort which alters the surface and color. Usually done to enhance the visualization in order to increase the profit to an uneducated buyer. However, this could also occur by your own doing. More so if you clean them. If the coin in question looks like a rainbow chances are this is AT. Not always though, but a key indicator. Most true rainbow toned coins will exhibit even, gradual toning from edge to edge rather than say straight from violet to blue with minimal transition.
As for the Cents, might I suggest looking at some on the PCGS website. This will give you a great look at how the natural toning occurs over time. Especially those designated as RED or RD.
ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
How could I forget? Check out DoctorBurnzy on here. A regular under the U.S Classic heading. That guy has some awesome toned cents.
ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
Any toning on your coins is probably natural, but one thing I've learned is that some folks artificially tone their coins using all kind of methods. I've done all kinds of numismatic research and still feel like I can only tell artificial toning when it's blatantly obvious. Posting pics on this site will get you all kinds of fantastic opinions and thoughts. Post away!
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Moderator
United States
23472 Posts |
The glossary on the right side includes this listing Quote:toning The term for the color seen on many coins. There are infinite shades, hues, and pattern variations seen, the result of how, where, and how long a coin is stored. Every coin begins to tone as it leaves the die, as all United States coins contain reactive metals in varying degrees. rggoodie
aka Richard
"catch em doing something right"
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As to AT, sometimes impossible to really tell. And really what is AT? If you leave a coin outside in the rain, snow, etc. and it tones, is it AT? AT is sometimes really easy to tell and other times impossible to tell. If a coin tones by someone just leaving it tone, is it AT?
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Which is why it is better to describe a toned coin as market acceptable or not.
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Valued Member
United States
60 Posts |
Sorry for the delays....I dont have the best camera to take photos of the coins, as the camera on my Note 8 Plus just doesn't get the colors on it when I try to take the photo.
I can see the colors under the light in the room I am in, but the camera just doesn't pick them up well, if at all...
Any recommendations on what I can to get a good photo to show?
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,240 |
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Posted 07/31/2019 11:13 pm
