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Does Patina or Toning carry a hefty valuation in other collectibles...
MGLICKER
Posts: 7,995 ✭✭✭
.....as it does in numismatics?
Thinking about it as I watch some toned silver eagles listed for $1000 a pop.
Would, say the Mona Lisa or Starry Night be prized more with bright hues of gold and blue? (oops, looks like Starry night already has them!)
What about a sterling pitcher once owned by Louis XXXIMXVS?
Serious question folks?
Thinking about it as I watch some toned silver eagles listed for $1000 a pop.
Would, say the Mona Lisa or Starry Night be prized more with bright hues of gold and blue? (oops, looks like Starry night already has them!)
What about a sterling pitcher once owned by Louis XXXIMXVS?
Serious question folks?
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Coin Rarities Online
<< <i>Have you ever watched the Antiques Roadshow? Early American furniture with its original finish intact is worth about 10x more than one that has been refinished. >>
<< <i>Absolutely. One collectible I can think of now is antique firearms. >>
+1 on that and furniture. also, antique lamps.
<< <i>Have you ever watched the Antiques Roadshow? Early American furniture with its original finish intact is worth about 10x more than one that has been refinished. >>
I remember watching an old one. The analysis from the appraiser of a large colonial chest went something like this: "I have good news and bad news for you. You chest is worth $10 to 15 k. The bad news is that if you had not just had it refinished, it would be worth $125k".
¯ Richard P. Feynman
<< <i>Every time I upgrade a GF I hope to find one with original surfaces which haven't been tooled by poor tattoo decisions
+1
- Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
SOLVE ET COAGULA
<< <i>I have heard that original antique cars now bring premiums if they are in presentable, running condition. >>
In the 1960's and 1970's muscle car era, lower to mid-mileage, original paint/patina cars bring just as much or more than decently restored cars. Collectors want an original, well kept car in solid condition sporting its original paint and componets. These are getting harder to find as the restoration craze of the 1990-2008 era ruined a lot of original cars. It was just like dipping coins. The rapid increase in collector car prices from 2004-2008 brought a lot of fresh cars to the market where glitz and a quickie paint job sold them for stupid money. No different than the coin dipping boom from 2004-2008 where the flashier the better. After 2008 people started coming to their senses.
On some very scarce cars like 1970-1971 Hemi Cuda convertibles (or rare 1960's Ferrari's) I would imagine that a very nice original car would bring a LOT more than most any restored one. Any one can restore a car (or dip a coin). Finding a nice original specimen is the hard part. Many areas of collectibles now award big premiums for originality of surfaces: antique toys, duck decoys, fishing lures, and just about most anything with nice original painted surfaces.
<< <i>Not in comic books >>
For Comic books, the patina is the original plastic sleeve cover.
Tyler
<< <i>It seems back when I was a kid (1960's), toned coins were considered to have environment damage and everyone wanted the super shiny blast white silver coins. My have times changed. >>
They sold lots and lots of coin dip back in the 60's!
<< <i>
<< <i>It seems back when I was a kid (1960's), toned coins were considered to have environment damage and everyone wanted the super shiny blast white silver coins. My have times changed. >>
They sold lots and lots of coin dip back in the 60's! >>
That's what I mean. No one wanted those ugly damaged coins. so, you have to watch out for coins that were cleaned. Not only dipped but down right polished!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>Although it is valued, tarnish is environmental damage - every bit as much as a dip in surface altering solution. Cheers, RickO >>
That point can be debated. No two patinas are exactly the same. And therefore no two will react alike if left alone, or if immediately dipped. If a coin with patina has been stable for decades there's no reason to remove it. The oxide layer can become protective. And whenever that original patina is removed, it will eventually grow back unless placed in a completely inert environment (ie vacuum - void of contaminants).
It does seem to be the case that the majority of the human race seems to prefer its metal freshly polished and shiny. I first became aware of the propensity to "buff" coins on the Christmas coin displays back in the mid-1960's and several of the larger local retailers (Sears, Macy's, Woolworth's, etc). Reprocessed and gleaming 1943 zinc pennies were everywhere. They almost got me to buy into it too. When my mom had me polishing the holiday silver serving set I usually used the same stuff to clean the "tarnish" off my silver coins. But, I was fortunate to eventually swallow the red pill.
<< <i>When my mom had me polishing the holiday silver serving set I usually used the same stuff to clean the "tarnish" off my silver coins. >>
Brings back memories. My grandmother had about 60 Morgans. In the early 1960's, my dad picked up a coin price guide at the supermarket (probably cost a quarter). Before checking values, he pulled out the polishing paste gunk and put a good shine on each coin. All the coins were listed at $2.00 each in the guide except one that was $8. Probably a CC or even a 93-S.
Sadly the coins were probably dumped as scrap in the 80's.
Any patina / toning is a result of what the coin experienced during its life. This is what makes it unique and gives it character. Of course, it may not always be attractive or acceptable.
The movie The Red Violin should be required viewing to put this in perspective.
To me, a collection where every coin is blast white or shinny gold would be pretty boring.
A Sterling tankard from the 1800's with beautiful patina and color would bring more than a scrubbed bright one for sure...