How Do You Tell If A Coin Is At Or Nt?

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

Author	Replies: 14 / Views: 2,062
CoinBeffut New Member United States 1 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 2:48 pm How do you tell if a coin is AT or NT? Report this Post to the Staff

jbuck Moderator United States 188320 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 3:27 pm to the Community! Your reply was split into its own topic and moved to the appropriate forum for the proper attention. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
Dorado Bedrock of the Community Canada 24885 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 3:29 pm To the Forum. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 3:53 pm to CCF. Not to be snarky,but a lot of research. It takes a lot of learning. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
SilverDollar2017 Pillar of the Community United States 8715 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 4:14 pm to the CCF! The toning pattern is usually what gives it away. It requires some research to be able to tell. Here's four pics of toned coins I found on the Internet - some with NT and some with AT. Can you tell which is which? Edited by SilverDollar2017 04/19/2018 4:15 pm Report this Post to the Staff
moxking Rest in Peace United States 17900 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 7:20 pm The most common indicator of AT is splotchy and blotchy colors. Natural toning progresses in a predictable pattern, regardless of the cause. Check past Heritage sales to see those that a TPG has determined to be one or the other. PCGS and NGC are right the vast majority of the time. Report this Post to the Staff
BadThad Bedrock of the Community United States 19948 Posts	Posted 04/19/2018 8:04 pm You don't! A coin either has market acceptable toning or it doesn't. Lincoln Cent Lover! VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/ Report this Post to the Staff
dreadnoughtcoin New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 12:57 am What the poster is talking about is Artificial Toning versus Natural Toning. Toning happens most pronounced with silver coinage and there are a number of factors that allow toning to happen to a coin. Report this Post to the Staff
dreadnoughtcoin New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 01:01 am This is a picture of a naturally toned Kennedy half dollar that I have. Report this Post to the Staff
sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21786 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 02:43 am BadThad is right. Nevertheless, The problem I have with eye catching beautiful multi color toning, is that it is in an unstable state between blast white and an even rich gray color. In most cases, it will become less attractive with age. I prefer to buy a coin on it's merits, trying to avoid being tempted by it's sometimes beautiful colors. A bit like a beautiful woman. You are much better off, when you find out about all of the other reasons why you may be interested. Better for her, (or the coin), as well. Report this Post to the Staff
srs77 Pillar of the Community United States 3134 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 09:47 am I agree with badthad, I really wish we could lose the AT/NT nomenclature and replace it with market acceptable or not... Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 188320 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 10:47 am I agree as well. There is not a clear line between natural and artificial. It is better to determine if the coin is marketable or not. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
MikeF Pillar of the Community United States 3479 Posts	Posted 04/20/2018 1:11 pm I agree that it takes looking at tens of thousands of coins to develop an eye for it. There are many different variables including know the series history. Morgans were stored in clothe bags for my years so the sides of the lucky coins that were pressed up against the bags developed the toning. That's why you see a lot of morgans with only one side toned. -Coins with radial toning, meaning toning around the perimeter that gets lighter as it moves to the center of the coin is usually from album toning and is considered natural. IT was stored in a Whitman album or some other type of folder for a length of time. -Another giveaway for AT is too much dark toning with the darker colors of the rainbow- dark blues, dark purples and reds. The toning will also appear to be thick and 'caked on' and encompass the entire coin. Silver Dollars first coin screams AT to me. Edited by MikeF 04/20/2018 1:12 pm Report this Post to the Staff
hadleydog Pillar of the Community Canada 1267 Posts	Posted 04/21/2018 05:45 am Quote: How do you tell if a coin is AT or NT? Research of the series you are interested in. With time, you will develop a feel for it. Personally, I dislike the term market acceptable. I prefer natural and questionable. Unless you keep your coins in a vacuum, from the moment they are minted they will begin the natural process of oxidation and form a thin layer of silver oxide on the coins surface.....we refer to this as thick skinned. No 200 year old silver coin should be blast white. I know of beautifully toned Morgans that have remained unchanged for at least 40 years (since they were removed from the mint bags). It is the accelerated (artificially created) pieces that are known to change. If someone could please show me a naturally toned example that has turned in a holder, I'd love to see it. I've asked that before, and am still patiently waiting for my first reply. Regrading SilverDollars post, coins 1 (most likely heat) and 3 (most likely gas) are artificially created. Coins 2 and 4 are the real deal and quite beautiful imho. I have seen both in hand, and am aware of the provenance of the final piece for the last 20 years or so. It is a true moose. Edited by hadleydog 04/21/2018 05:49 am Report this Post to the Staff
just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 04/21/2018 11:15 am This question comes up often. And the reason why is sometimes it is impossible to tell the difference. And you have to remember what toning really is. For example if I left a coin laying outside for a long period of time and it started to tone, is it AT or NT? If I left a coin on top of a stove where it got heat and then no heat and started to tone, is it AT or NT. In both instances it was done purposely so is that AT? I suspect the worst AT is done in a fast method to tone coins yet what is the difference? If a coin is toned, it is just a toned coin so what. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 14 / Views: 2,062

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

All Forums Category: General Numismatic Forums Forum: Main Coin Forum

Silver Gold Bull US is the United States leading bullion dealer. We deliver gold coins, gold bars, silver coins, silver bars and precious metals to your door. Order today!

The First Dollar, your premier source for bullion and rare coins. See our bullion list on the site and the coin inventory on ebay.

View Last 100 New Topics

View Last 100 Active Topics

Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum

It took 0.41 seconds to rattle this change.