Detecting Artificial Toning - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 2,340
johnny676767 Pillar of the Community United States 521 Posts	Posted 11/23/2014 12:19 pm In general I like toned coins, but I suspect much of the toning out there is artificial. I don't mean the crazy rainbows on 1990's quarters but rather a darker type. I've posted two pics here. In the first, the toning goes all the way to the letters and devices. In the second, there is almost a halo around the letters and devices preventing full toning. While it appears both coins have been cleaned (at least slightly) I suspect the second has been artificially toned. Or, it may have been dipped and then re-toned. I am not an expert by any means. This is just a guess and I'd like to hear what you think. Thanks. Report this Post to the Staff

SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 11/23/2014 12:53 pm This is a really subjective area of evaluation. There are no rules which apply consistently except in the most blatant cases. So, although I'd love to explain it all in one sentence, that ain't happening. With that said, I agree completely with your thinking here and you should consider yourself well on the way towards learning that subjective skill. The only addition I'd make is that although the second coin is almost certainly what you think it is, the first isn't certainly natural toning. Artificial toning can show that appropriate pattern, but even then the overall appearance of the coin would tend to betray it even if detail images didn't. Report this Post to the Staff
just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 11/23/2014 6:08 pm And yet another attempt to figure that out. The main problem is exactly what is AT. If you leave a coin on a table, outside, in the weather and it tones, since you did it purposely, is it AT? What if you accidently dropped it there and now it tones. Since you didn't do it on purpose, does that make it NT? Yes the coins that are excessively toned by someone is usually considered AT but what about the ones that were just done by accident? Report this Post to the Staff
BadThad Bedrock of the Community United States 19948 Posts	Posted 11/23/2014 10:26 pm Quote: The main problem is exactly what is AT. Since AT cannot always be easily determined, it's better to wholly ditch the terms NT/AT. It's easier to simply say whether a coin is "market acceptable" or not. Basically this is what the top-tier TPGs have done. They not as concerned about if a coin has been AT'd, it's more of a question of whether or not they want it residing in one of their slabs (as a questionable coin). If they don't, they generically reject it. Lincoln Cent Lover! VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/ Report this Post to the Staff
mdpmedia Pillar of the Community United States 3546 Posts	Posted 11/24/2014 03:14 am Hi, I often enjoy hearing and reading from the old timers regarding subjects such as coin toning... The following eight year old URL is somewhat lengthy but nonetheless is still an interesting and informative point of view on the subject: http://www.ebay.com/gds/Toned-coins...26042/g.html mdpmedia Report this Post to the Staff
rc57 New Member United States 38 Posts	Posted 11/24/2014 8:56 pm Great read! Makes me feel a little better about the journey I'm on. Lightly toned or colorful, one side or both, PCGS or NGC. Morgan,Peace and Franklin's. I have the album's of each and love them but I do enjoy the graded toned. Report this Post to the Staff
Tbone Pillar of the Community United States 1839 Posts	Posted 11/25/2014 3:30 pm @ mdpmedia I enjoyed reading that as well. I very much prefer a coin with attractive toning like the one in my avatar. However since I also sell coins I must admit that the white shiny ones do tend to move quicker. Especially when you're talking about Morgan's and Walkers. Report this Post to the Staff
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