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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,152 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
In my quest to get a 1800s Hercules Group 5 Francs, I've had a bit of an adventure. The first was "hairlined" (see earlier post) to heck (returned) and this one has "questionable toning". In hand it looks attractive but in the pics the colors really jump out rather neon-like. One thing I noticed is that the outer rim color (blue on the obverse) also shows around the figures toward the middle of the coin. How do you identify fake toning? Is it just because the colors are so 'obviously' fake? I haven't seen colors even remotely like this except on MS 66+ specimens (and even those only in pictures). If this is a fake or enhanced job, how was it done? Those are pretty good/even circles of color around the rims. Thanks     |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I'm going to guess they objected to the uneven distribution of the darker blue areas, which one might expect should demonstrate an even progression from the rim inward. The process likely involved....enhancing....the normal toning process with heat.
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
IMHO may have been bathed in sulfur.i have seen on ebay many coins selled are dipped in sulfur, process is very simple and very good results are obtained. but I'm not an expert in coins I'm a rookie yet.I only say that I have seen the process and its outcomes and look very much like your photo  Edited by brixxx27
01/28/2014 01:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
917 Posts |
It doesn't look like it was dipped in sulfur. When sulfur comes into contact with silver it turns black. But also it doesn't look natural. I would agree with Dave it looks to have been accelerated somehow, heat would also be my guess.
Edited by LincolnGuy
01/28/2014 02:05 am
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Sulfur is actually the usual suspect with toned silver, natural or otherwise, just not in the kind of concentration one would imagine being dipped in it would achieve.
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Valued Member
United States
415 Posts |
Most of you are right, It is sulfur toned. HOWEVER not in a dip process, because liquid, or even clumped/powdered sulfur will leave tell tale signs on both sides of coin.....What you have instead, is a coin treated with sulfur gas. I have been experimenting with it myself to protect myself from doctored coins, but the problem is, the results can be pretty amazing. furthermore, no 2 coins have been identical. So the smallest factors (like all chemistry) can make a difference in the final product.
Matt
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
Quote:
The process likely involved....enhancing....the normal toning process with heat. I officially nominate SsuperDdave for Most Delicately Worded Statement Of The Year. I remember a similar thread at least a year ago. The coin in that one had comical, horrendous "bullseye" toning with seemingly radioactive, almost neon colors that made you want to wear OSHA-approved eye protection. The OP asked if it might possibly be artificial toning and one poster replied by saying "BLOWTORCH! BLOWTORCH!" This Hercules and the Nymphs coin isn't (comparatively) all that bad. I think it's actually kind of nice looking. Just a personal opinion, but... I think playing toning games with authentic silver coins isn't cool and that games of that sort should be played with generic silver rounds. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Surprisingly the enhanced toning does not bother me; I rather like it and I am not usually a fan of AT. If it were mine, my concern would be what it will progress to. Quote:
I officially nominate SsuperDdave for Most Delicately Worded Statement Of The Year. True dat, FF!  Copperpennyconnection, interesting note there. I for one would be interested in seeing what your results have been. |
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Valued Member
United States
110 Posts |
Check it closely for a mintmark, probably "A" for Alamogordo or "T" for Trinity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Is that the A under the wreath?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
And naturally there is that problem of exactly what is AT. For example if that coin was left in a place where a toning type gas was present, is that AT? If it was placed in that invironment purposely, then that should make it AT? Sort of like if you dropped a coin in a pile of dirt by accident where Sulfur is present. Find it a year later and it is now all tomed. Is that AT? I've always thought that AT and NT are just terminology and it is at times impossible to really know the difference. So although this one appears to have been in a gas oven for a while or sitting on top of a raw, hardboiled egg, it may have happened by accident. However, what would you call it if done by someone that has been eating eggs, Italian beef samdwhiches with hot pepper, beer and now breathed on that coin?  I've met so many people with breath like that I suspect many toned coins are just from being near them.  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Check it closely for a mintmark, probably "A" for Alamogordo or "T" for Trinity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Quote:Check it closely for a mintmark, probably "A" for Alamogordo or "T" for Trinity. Feeling kind of thick right now, what did I miss?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Location and name of the first atomic bomb test.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
*head-desk* I wish I could say brain freeze but it think it might be early dementia...
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Valued Member
United States
110 Posts |
My fault. I should've used a Smiley icon, but I hate the little freaks.
It creeps me out being in a little box on a chat board with one of them, like being in an elevator with a clown (insert smiley here).
-Duncan
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,152 |
Posted 01/28/2014 01:29 am
