What side of the "Toning Spectrum" do you fall on?

DBSTrader2

I saw a "toned" coin advertised in a BST post. Not to step on the seller's toes, I decided to post my related question here to poll Forum members on their thoughts on toning in general.

I have to admit some of the ones I've seen have interesting color profiles/patterns, BUT.............

.........personally, I still don't get the whole "toning" thing. For the longest time, everything I heard revolved around people doing whatever they could to store their coins in PVC/acid-free holders/2x2's/vinyl sheets in humidity-free homes/rooms/cabinets/SDB's, employing dessicant packets - - all this to AVOID tarnishing.

Is that still the majority opinion these days, or has natural or artificial toning seized the day?

MOST of my older coins are from circulation, so it's not as much an issue with me. Only my keep-current clad stuff these days comes as close to BU from bank rolls, etc as possible. For those, I'd be disappointed if any of them started to tone.

Am I the only one who thinks this way?

Just curious what the sentiment is out there among Forum members.

illini420

I like tarnish when it's pretty Can turn a boring, common $10 coin into something much more...

CommemDude

Ever since I was a little kid pining for an $18 BU Illinois commem I could not afford, I have thought that toning added beauty,character and personality to an otherwise boring white coin. I still feel that way

topstuf

I like both.

BryceM

I like original or "plausibly original" coins. This includes an appropriate patina. I'm not a fan of toning on moderns like ASE's. I don't like white 18th century coins.... there's almost no way a coin could have avoided acquiring some patina in that time. Nice toning adds character and personality to a coin. Ugly toning.... is, well, ugly, and distracts from the design. Nice toning can accentuate the design and make it easier to appreciate.

Take this Connecticut commem. The toning accentuates the leaves and branches and gives the rim a bit of visual interest. The toning around the feet of the eagle is a tad distracting but isn't terrible. Overall, I like this as it seems to be consistent with the coin's date of issue.

Toning is especially nice when it doesn't destroy, distort, or otherwise impair the luster of the coin. This Seated Quarter shows this perfectly:

Oddly enough, I prefer some coins blast white. This is especially true for Peace dollars where most toning distracts from the coin. They're young enough that some have remained white on their own. Others have had a dip or two for sure. You never really know and sometimes just a touch of toning can be nice:

TomB

I am certain that you are not the only one who feels and thinks as you do and one of the great things about numismatics is that you don't have to collect what you either don't like, don't want or don't understand. It's really a delightful hobby in that regard.

Justacommeman

I’m with Commemdude but can be smitten with a blast white coin from time to time

m

DoubleEagle59

Personally, I believe most white coins have been dipped (of a certain age) and most toned coins have been 'helped' in some way or another.

What is important with toning is whether or not it is accepted as 'natural', or put another way is 'market acceptable'.

I wish the TPG's would grade toning as either 'MA' or 'not MA' rather than 'natural' or 'artificial'.

valente151

.

Aspie_Rocco

I like natural original colors, some dark-blackish tones, and colorful coins. Artificially vibrant color is a major turn off as are blast white over dipped coins aka headlights.

matt_dac

I think they are beautiful but I avoid them for my collection.

yspsales

I appreciate them but don't seek them.

Swampboy

Blast white coins from the teens and twenties don't speak to me

Nicely toned walkers, buffs, mercs, SLQs, and Peace do

crazyhounddog

I love natural toning.

blitzdude

Nothing ruins a coin more than the tone. Thank god for the Weimans tarnish remover.

koynekwest

I'm a big fan of vivid natural toning, especially on Buffalo 5c but also on Mercs, SLQ, WL 50c.

WildIdea

I'll take a gem with a delicate wash of color almost every time.

DIMEMAN

@Justacommeman said:
I’m with Commemdude but can be smitten with a blast white coin from time to time

m

I'm with Mark and Commemdude.

bolivarshagnasty

I'll go either way.

Kkathyl

I like em they way they come but for me no AT. I like the dirty washie and the circ half dollars. Each unique in its own way.

Kkathyl

dogwood

Mostly an edge and rim tone admirer on BU silver.
Only in the spectrum from black, brown and bronze to dark golds.
BryceM’s Connecticut above is a good example.

Also especially love Dirty Pinkish Pastel Flagstone©️(It can cover the whole coin, both sides, as far as I’m concerned!)

I dislike all colors from green blue red purple on my coins.

CoinHoarder

I like natural toning on a coin.

But, I would never pay a large premium for toning.

DiggerJim

I like the natural colors also. As close to fresh from the strike as possible. But the prices that some of these toners are fetching are crazy.

Mark me down for the natural toning!

DiggerJim

ricko

All tarnish is environmental damage to the surface of a coin. I prefer either blast white coins or commercially worn coins. I find the premiums paid for tarnish to be beyond reason - though I will be the first to say 'Collect what you like'... It is, after all, a hobby. Cheers, RickO

asheland

I typically prefer the blast white, but can make exceptions for toning on occasion...

johnny9434

love that 1935 peace dollar Bryce m

dan_marinelli

The toning on the 1889 quarter above is what I call bullseye toning and is very much desired by me personally. I have a couple like that but they are not easy to come by.

Musky1011

My likes

coinbuf

As a Lincoln cent collector primarily I prefer my coins red or with a touch of tone, and my silver blast white. However I do have toned coins in the collection which I also enjoy for a number of reasons, as said in previous posts a blast white 1830 bust half looks somewhat unnatural.

keyman64

This is a nice one that I have for sale.

Any offers?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1016331/price-drop-1881-s-morgan-toner-pcgs-ms63-cac

Baley

As is often the case, BryceM expressed my thoughts, and did it better than I would have done.

neildrobertson

I agree. I like toning that has a natural look to it,often the earthen tones. I stay away from colors. I will never take toning at the cost of luster. I still want to see luster through the toning.

Walkerfan

I started out by liking blast white coins only and was more concerned with a sharp strike than anything else.

I was influenced, along the way, by some of the veterans here, so now I like both toned and white. The white coins have to have good luster, though.

Wahoo554

Sometimes a perfectly toned coin has that extra something that’s irresistible. I love nice natural toning.

Paradisefound

I am just on the very beginning of the spectrum .......

Paradisefound

But .......

A wonderful member sent me this deep deep NT SAE

He asked me what my favorite colors are ....... which is all of the shades between black and gray.

Paradisefound

Thank you B man

Soldi

I really don't "fall" on either side.

Outhaul

I'm with @BryceM on this one. There are coins I like blast white, and others that I like a hint of toning on.

BLAST WHITE: Morgans, Peace, SLQs, most classic commems

Everything else can have a hint of toning, but not boogery-sneeze toning.

Cheers

Bob

keets

MOST of my older coins are from circulation, so it's not as much an issue with me.

this is an interesting statement for comparison with toned coins.

I can certainly appreciate colorfully toned coins but they are easily the exception and why I tend to think like BryceM above. I liken tone to circulation. when I buy circulated grade coins I don't want anything that is over the top, anything that really tells me the coin has made its rounds. no deep gouges, heavy contact marks or unsightly scrapes, just an honest smoothing of the high points. so it is with toning. I have educated myself, or tried to, over the years to get an idea of what an Uncirculated coin that isn't brilliant white should look like and typically the color isn't vivid or electric, it is varying shades of yellow/gold/brown and when we're lucky there's some blue/pink/green and other color mixed in.

we all know that toned coins have their problems and that the colors are quite often suspect. circulated coins have similar problems, smoothing, re-engraving, whizzing, etc.

the Hobby can be a dangerous place to navigate.

Elric

Elric

The best toner that I have. Love nice natural toning.

ReadyFireAim

I like master-blaster-uber-huge toners.
(gold doesn't really tone as much generally so....)
Anyway, here is something from Hansen's collection to enjoy

jom

It's been many years since I bought a "white" coin...they just don't do anything for me. When I buy a silver coin I favor tone. When I buy a gold coin I favor tone. I just can't help it...it's what I like. I can't explain it. I certainly don't expect anyone to feel the same as there is a place for every kind of collecting taste: tone, white, low grade, high grade, whatever....just enjoy what you like.

jom

ms70

Silver tarnishes and I guess in the case of coins we call it toning. As long as it's natural it's ok with me. I'm a sucker for blue and red.

CascadeChris

I fall into the "wow level eye appeal" spectrum.. Doesn't necessarily need to be a true monster. Just color that, when you see it, your first and instant instinctual reaction is "wow"

Here are a few recent raw newps headed to our hosts as we speak that fell under that category

slider23

I like a little bit of everything.

Peace Dollar - white
Morgan - white, and rainbow
Old copper- Chocolate brown
Gold - no toning
Classic silver (bust, seated)- orginal natural toning
Nickel - a little color is nice

Rollerman

BryceM spelled it out how I feel about the subject and even provided examples! Nice post sir!
Pete

AstroJoe

I personally don't like toning on coins. I pass up on toned coins.
It is less appealing and valuable to me.
My opinion.

OnWithTheHunt