Do You Prefer Toning?

To me the toning takes away from the eye appeal.

I stopped reading after this reply since it says EXACTLY what I would say.

holy smokes that is one bad tone job there

Given the choice between a coin that is without toning and one that is the same but has toning I will always choose the untoned coin. Having said that I have seen some very pretty coins with toning on them and do understand some of the appeal. The problem as I see it though is some folks are now toning coins deliberately which in my opinion takes away some of the beauty of au and bu coins. Coin collecting as with anything else has a variety of folks, each with there individual likes and dislikes. I prefer the natural beauty of a coin that looks like it just came from the mint. Sincerely, John Leckrone

I dont have a problem with toned coins (as you can see from my avatar). I actually have several toned franklins in my set. I also like un toned coins, depend on the coin. I like a good, clean freshly painted 55 chevy but I also like the one with the original paint that has been well loved and taken care of.

Seperately.....kind of..... I am getting into collecting those beautiful RED Lincolns. There is something very appealing to this tone for me, over the browns and "natural" colors of the Cent.
I don't quite have enough to "change an album" over to this........nor will I seek out and pay premiums for them.....I'll just acquire them the way I always have. (through estate sales, newspapers, etc.)

Hey eagle! I like collecting red wheaties too! I have sets labled red, green and black. here is a section of the red set that is ever growing! lol

Red Sense!



Rainbow toning and such just makes the coin suspect to me. With some basic metallurgy it is easy tone a coin. I presume everyone here knows this? Ok not easy, I guess its like cooking, just follow the recipe. I have/had a purple '26 that I know was not purple 10 years ago. I don't remember wiping anything (solvent) however I have used denatured alcohol, toluene, acetone etc in the past to clean crap off a coin. I must have done something to it. I posted about it in one of my first threads. Anyways... since it looked like a sore thumb, I decided to fix it. I suspended the penny in sealed jar over a 10% solution of NH3 and water for about 30 minutes and viola! nice and light brown once again.

I should post before and afters.

BTW - That solution is very corrosive. Make sure you don't care about the value if you want to try it. Every coin will react differently depending on the starting point.

I am an extreme newbie to the political intricacies in the delicate subject of creating eye appeal ie. cleaning and toning.. Like the signature I saw on here - you didn't pay for this opinion, so take it for what it is worth - or something like that......

I know, OP. I am sorry. you didnt want to create a debate, but I have to get this off my chest.

IMO: There is no difference in AT vs NT except semantics. The colors you see are oxidation from a reaction of chemicals introduced in proximity of said colored coin. duh... Since some unseen force of nature did not introduce the chemicals, it can safely be said that it was done by the human hand. Whether accidentally or on purpose is inconsequential IMO, it happens. So, therefore if you like colorful toned coins, then study up! You can have every color of the rainbow on every coin for probably the cost of one of those coins.

Blasephemy, I know. Don't yell at me I am new here!

BTW - I checked: I like some toned coins. I like the red, green and black ones, I find in all sorts of weird places.

I like attractive natural golden. red and blue toning. Doesn't bother me a bit. On earlier coins like barber and bust coins I like dark fields and light lettering and devices on worn coins.