Thoughts on toning 4 4

[Hoghead515]

Im riding home from work and we got a good little trip ahead of us. My boss is driving so i thought id get on here and do some chating with my good friends. Dont get to spend as much time on here as i used to. After seeing the thread from@Coinbuf on the blast whites, it got me to thinking about toned coins. I wanted to share my opinion on toning and would like to hear the opinions of others. Im more of a blast white fan and lightly golden toning also. Not real big on rainbow toning. Not real big on dark toned coins either even though i own both. I really like coins that are lightly toned around the rim such as the one im posting below. Whats some of your guys thoughts on toning? I really enjoy hearing everyones thoughts. Thank you my friends. 

[Lem E]

I think everyone knows I like a nice toned coin. I like blasters too though.

Edited November 5, 2021 by Lem E

[Coinbuf]

As a copper collector primarily I prefer bright red copper but I can also appreciate (and do own) some very beautiful red brown and brown copper coins.   For silver I too really like nice blast white coins, but that does depend on the age of the coin.   Blast white on most uncirculated 20th and 21st century silver coins looks stunning, conversely blast white on an early 1800's coin looks odd.   So while I prefer white the farther back in time I go (and the lower the grade) the more I expect to see some level of tone including heavy dark crusty toning.    

[Coinbuf]

Some of the old holders were really good at imparting that rim toning, the ACG holders and the small white ANACS holders always seemed to have that rim tone.   Here are a couple of mine in those old holders that fit.   Notice on the ACG holder how the tone is heavier toward the label.

[Hoghead515]

I also like wood grain looking toning such as on lincoln cents and on some nickles such as this buffalo i own. Not sure the proper terminology for it but it gets me excited to see coins like that. I had to have this buffalo soon as i saw it. 

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:42 PM, Coinbuf said:

Some of the old holders were really good at imparting that rim toning, the ACG holders and the small white ANACS holders always seemed to have that rim tone.   Here are a couple of mine in those old holders that fit.   Notice on the ACG holder how the tone is heavier toward the label.

Yes sir !!!! Those are very nice. Thats what i like to see. 

[Hoghead515]

I really like the sheen on this GW. It is one of my favorites I own. 

[124Spider]

Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of toning.

Specifically:

--I like red, red/brown, or brown copper coins; "brown" should be natural. 

--I have a bunch of plebeian Jefferson and buffalo nickels in mint state, and the older ones have toned nicely; not garish or overwhelming, just a slight change of color.  I like that.

--I vastly prefer blast white (if uncirculated) or normal patina (if circulated) silver coins.  I don't own anything minted between ancient Greece and 1878, so I have no opinion on how older silver should look.  I will admit that multi-toned Morgan dollars can be pleasing, if the toning covers the whole side in a reasonably continuous fashion, but I would always prefer no toning.

Mark

[Lem E]

I think I just like everything.

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:29 PM, Lem E said:

I think everyone knows I like a nice toned coin. I like blasters too though.

 

On 11/5/2021 at 5:29 PM, Lem E said:

I think everyone knows I like a nice toned coin. I like blasters too though.

Very beautiful. I like rainbow toners like that. I dont like the ones that is overwhelming such as on alot of the Morgans. 

[Lem E]

I will take that back. I’m not a fan of the black mottled toning that a lot of the GW quarters get.

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:52 PM, Lem E said:

I will take that back. I’m not a fan of the black mottled toning that a lot of the GW quarters get.

Exactly. Ive seen some in ms67 that look plum awful. And see an ms 66 thats twice as attractive. I cant stand that. I got a couple im gonna replace some day after i get my set completed. Such as this one. Looks really bad to me. 

[Lem E]

On 11/5/2021 at 4:58 PM, Hoghead515 said:

Exactly. Ive seen some in ms67 that look plum awful. And see an ms 66 thats twice as attractive. I cant stand that. I got a couple im gonna replace some day after i get my set completed. Such as this one. Looks really bad to me. 

I think quarters are hard to find nicely toned. Yes they are out there, but finding one with good color on both sides is a bit tough.

[Lem E]

Nickels on the other hand…

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 6:02 PM, Lem E said:

Nickels on the other hand…

That is gorgeous. Would realy like to find one like that. Im with @Fenntucky Mike on the Cobalt blues also. I really like those as well. 

[Fenntucky Mike]

Typically, blast white is what I'm looking for in anything post 1900 but I will make some exceptions for subtle toning, like your 48 or CB's 83-O. Those look nice to me and are not harsh or distract from the coin. Pre 1800 coppers I like a good glossy BN with some undertones of blue. Solid toning can be awesome, but again I prefer the colors to be lighter. Anything with electric rainbow toning, barf, I'll move on. 

I've been crushing on this one for the last few days. Sometimes toning can really add to the design of the coin, like this one, the darker colors (blue, yellow, brown) give a sense of the field and the red/red brown, sunlight.

[Lem E]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:05 PM, Hoghead515 said:

That is gorgeous. Would realy like to find one like that. Im with @Fenntucky Mike on the Cobalt blues also. I really like those as well. 

This was actually given to me by Buffalo Head. Instantly became one of my favorite coins in the collection and an honor to have a piece from his collection.

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 6:10 PM, Lem E said:

This was actually given to me by Buffalo Head. Instantly became one of my favorite coins in the collection and an honor to have a piece from his collection.

Yes sir!!!  Hes a good dude. Its beautiful. 

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 6:09 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Typically, blast white is what I'm looking for in anything post 1900 but I will make some exceptions for subtle toning, like your 48 or CB's 83-O. Those look nice to me and are not harsh or distract from the coin. Pre 1800 coppers I like a good glossy BN with some undertones of blue. Solid toning can be awesome, but again I prefer the colors to be lighter. Anything with electric rainbow toning, barf, I'll move on. 

I've been crushing on this one for the last few days. Sometimes toning can really add to the design of the coin, like this one, the darker colors (blue, yellow, brown) give a sense of the field and the red/red brown, sunlight.

I like that kind of toning very much on that coin. Really makes it attractive. 

[Hoghead515]

Heres probably one of the ugliest coins i own. Its gonna get replaced in the near future. I should have never bought it. I was in a hurry. Trying to hurry and put that set together and just settled for it instead of waiting on a nicer example. Ive learned my lesson on doing that. 

[Lem E]

On 11/5/2021 at 5:21 PM, Hoghead515 said:

Heres probably one of the ugliest coins i own. Its gonna get replaced in the near future. I should have never bought it. I was in a hurry. Trying to hurry and put that set together and just settled for it instead of waiting on a nicer example. Ive learned my lesson on doing that. 

I would still rather have this than the black speckled ones.

[Lem E]

Here is one of my milder toned nickels.

[Quintus Arrius]

On 11/5/2021 at 6:09 PM, Fenntucky Mike said:

Typically, blast white is what I'm looking for in anything post 1900 but I will make some exceptions for subtle toning, like your 48 or CB's 83-O. Those look nice to me and are not harsh or distract from the coin. Pre 1800 coppers I like a good glossy BN with some undertones of blue. Solid toning can be awesome, but again I prefer the colors to be lighter. Anything with electric rainbow toning, barf, I'll move on. 

I've been crushing on this one for the last few days. Sometimes toning can really add to the design of the coin, like this one, the darker colors (blue, yellow, brown) give a sense of the field and the red/red brown, sunlight.

[Thought I would politely point out that the "torch" and "cornucopia" featured on either side of this coin's denomination, "5 0," are anti-counterfeiting measures introduced by the French mint on or about 1901. I have no idea why I would know this.] 🐓 

Edited November 6, 2021 by Quintus Arrius
Clarification

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 6:30 PM, Lem E said:

Here is one of my milder toned nickels.

You got the most impressive nickles ive ever laid eyes on. Awsome collection brother. 

[Lem E]

On 11/5/2021 at 7:17 PM, Hoghead515 said:

You got the most impressive nickles ive ever laid eyes on. Awsome collection brother. 

Thank you my friend. I appreciate that very much. I am in the process of making myself look like a dummy on another thread at the moment. Got excited for a second but its not looking good.

[Hoghead515]

On 11/5/2021 at 8:35 PM, Lem E said:

Thank you my friend. I appreciate that very much. I am in the process of making myself look like a dummy on another thread at the moment. Got excited for a second but its not looking good.

Dont worry bout it bro. Ive been there myself. More times than once. I made myself look like a dummy plenty of times. 

[Quintus Arrius]

I don't know if I am amenable to sharing my certified status 🤔 as King of the Dummies on this board with other members and pretenders to the throne much of my own making and to my eternal embarrassment!    I had to actually go back to some notes I had jotted down nearly three years ago just to answer your simple question... let's see now... Toning...where does it fit in in the general scheme of things? Strike? Preservation?  Luster? Color? Eye appeal? 👁 I can only say I know it when I see it, but is it necessarily toning? Sometimes it's difficult to pin down. I secretly love iridescent, peripheral cobalt blue 💙 toning but am reluctant to state that publicly.  And I am a moody sort. 🙃 What I say I like today may not hold true for tomorrow, and I have been called out on my inconsistencies. We all like blast whites but only on certain coins. We all like strong strikes but not if they have occurred on coins of no interest to us. We tend to gravitate to different series for different reasons. I don't like the 2021 you-know-whats I haven't even seen, just the same as I wouldn't care for a silver SG or a Buffalo Head if it were copper or clad [or even a psychedelic Rooster].  And if I had it to do all over again I would probably continue repeating what I have always done: begin a series and upgrade continually.  But the air is thin in the upper stratosphere, and when the pickings get slim, I get bored but keep my antennae extended.

All of the factors you and our fellow members have cited, I myself find attractive. But if you asked me why I bought that old Venezuelan gold piece I could only tell you I wanted to see that horse on the reverse looking backwards up close and toning had nothing to do with it. My thirst was satiated; I moved on. Yours is a very honest and humble approach to collecting and people like that. Kudos to you and all the collectors out there 👏. 

[bsshog40]

I like toning as long as it's attractive. Not into the real dark stuff. Blast white is good also. I have to admit I like the way that silver eagles can tone with some pretty wild colors. End of roll toners on morgans always look good too. 

[TonerGuy]

Is there a reason to collect non-toners ? I dont know one... collecting toners seems axiomatic

[Quintus Arrius]

[ 🐓:  Are you going to let him (@TonerGuy) get away with that?!

Q.A.  With what?

🐓:  Using high-octane language like that on the Forum? There may be Newbies out there!

Q.A.: Actually, the term, seldom used, so much so that I cannot recall the last time I heard it, is fine.  And furthermore, I happen to agree with him.

🐓:  How so?

Q.A.:  Well, not so much with old gold, but I can definitely identify with those dabbling in nicely toned silver and copper pieces. Accordingly, one can only speculate...  Like many other collectors who've put their incredibly well-toned possessions out there for all to see, I would imagine that availability and price might dictate tastes or an irresistible impulse to fill a hole 🕳 with something -- anything to complete a collection first and then move on to the laborious task, very often lifeong, of continually upgrading.

🐓:  Is that what Mr. Partrick did?

Q.A.: I don't know.  I assume so. There had to be a starting point but, then again, one's trajectory is subject to change without notice. If you look at the Set Registry, you will be blind-sided by the incredibly broad array of sets assembled by single individuals. Directing one's attention to just toned coins requires discipline and long-term endurance. We cannot all own a Mint State cherry 🍒 red, FDOI, right off the assembly line Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, so in the meantime, we do the best we can to get what we are really after, as circumstances allow and that inevitably means settling for less. Nothing more complicated than that.

🐓:  Well said, Roostermeister!

Q.A.:  😉