Toning hides problems!

Insider2

But you better learn to tip and rotate the coin or you will not see the "tooled" surface even at 15X!

Jimnight

So what else is new.

ricko

Excellent point @Insider2... and the pictures will help many of our new collectors or those with limited experience in evaluating coins. Cheers, RickO

blitzdude

Many pay extra for toned tooling. Crazy world. Regards

Paradisefound

@Insider2 .... truly and honestly ...... you should come up with a reference book on this very subject

You're been educating us to know what we don't necessarily see thru our naked eyes or even with 20X .... so I thank you!

ReadyFireAim

Most tooling looks like it wouldn't be worth the effort unless the coin was valuable.

So what's your guess for the average value of a tooled coin?

Also...Do they generally smoke or gas them after they're done?

johnny9434

A good reminder on things to look for

DisneyFan

@Insider2 said:

But you better learn to tip and rotate the coin or you will not see the "tooled" surface even at 15X!

What does "tooled" mean? How did it improve the appearance of this coin?

Insider2

@ReadyFireAim said:
Most tooling looks like it wouldn't be worth the effort unless the coin was valuable.

So what's your guess for the average value of a tooled coin?

Also...Do they generally smoke or gas them after they're done?

The coin I posted is an Uncirculated Capped Bust half dollar. There is a tiny amount of rub (MS-62 amount) hidden by the typical "dirt altered high-point" surface alteration that has become a very popular way to disguise friction.

I have no idea what the coin is actually worth:

High eye appeal, high grade problem coin that IMHO, most dealers and collectors would miss! So what's it worth? Several hundred?

TroyW

in the photos, was the contrast adjusted as well?

NumisOxide

Thanks for the educational post!

Insider2

@TroyW said:
in the photos, was the contrast adjusted as well?

I just changed the color of the coin to a shade of silver with a filter and made the image brighter.

Insider2

Typical original image w/florescent light:

Corrected:

Still not good enough for many.

Walkerfan

I see it all the time. Don’t care how much eye appeal a coin has, if the fields and surfaces have too much disturbance and abrasions, underneath the skin, It’s not for me.

clarkbar04

@blitzdude said:
Many pay extra for toned tooling. Crazy world. Regards

Blast white 200 year old coins are pretty cool, aren’t they.