Any comments on this coin's toning?

[nwcs]

[James_OldeTowne]

Neil, that looks like some sort of paper toning. I don't think it would be considered problematic.

 

James

[keithdagen]

Interesting to say the least. And the coin's surfaces look nice. Is this a proof or MS piece? Shield is cleaner than most of that date if it's MS.

[nwcs]

It is a business strike.

[nwcs]

I see that this coin has been viewed a bunch without many guesses. Kinda odd. Anyway, I'll tell you what it is. It's a MS coin from an original roll I placed into a book printed in the 1920s that has been in my garage since about March. Of the 4 identical coins (meaning 4 from the same original roll), 1 other toned like this. 1 toned somewhat similarly but not as completely and the other was just plain splotchy with the same color.

 

Confession time, as an experiment I sent it's twin (toned in the same manner) in and it was certified MS-66. It's a market acceptible coin I believe, but a 'tweener when it comes to toning intent.

 

Neil

[mlovest]

What's the current buzz on "toneing" for coins? Does it seriously impact the value? Do some like it?

[nwcs]

As with many things, it's in the eye of the beholder. Exceptional toning, that is, the toning that makes you drool and stop and gawk are a definite premium. Above average eye appeal toning still carries a premium as well. The rest carry little premium and unappealing toning will negatively impact a coin's value.

 

Of course, this applies only to coins that acquired their toning without the help of chemicals or liquids being manually applied to the coin surface to accelerate the toning.

 

Neil

[TomB]

I've got to be honest with you, Neil. I looked at the attachment and did not like the coin. That is not to say that I thought anything had been done to the coin, rather, it just didn't appeal to me. That type of toning is seen a bit and it's just, I don't know, it's just just... Does that make any sense. So, I saw the image and was not moved to write about it.

[nwcs]

No problem. I wasn't emotionally invested in this coin as it was an experiment with a $10 coin (since I think it'd grade 65). I wanted to see what would happen. I have another going on with a Franky which is actually looking a bit different from this.

[BillJones]

The toning on this piece does not do anything for me. If it continues to develop, it will become a dull brown without the “pop” that the toned coin collectors really like. It just the usual stuff that forms when a silver coin is placed in contact with sulfur, in this case the sulfur in the paper of the pages of a book.

 

Really pretty toning is an abnormal occurrence. If anyone could cause it to form on coins consistently in a fairly short period of time, they could make a lot of money, at least for a while. After a while, however, the old supply factor would kick in and the prices for toned coins would drop. Then the bright white coins would come back into vogue and a lot of toned coins would get dipped and diminished in the process.

 

My attitude is to leave 95%+ of the coins alone and preserve them properly for future generations. Making them acceptable for the current market usually damages them for the future.