Untoned Bust Coinage in MS- good or bad?

jamesfsm

I have a few white Bust 50C's slabbed in MS grades. I would concur that these have all been dipped to get this way. Having said that, are they works of art if they are dipped white AND hairline free? I'm trying to learn whether others view the artificiality of the whiteness as a bad attribute. I still haven't fully made up my mind.

DHeath

James,

I'd collect them as I liked them. I personally prefer them toned and natural looking, but I'll tell you that many of the toned coins are second toning. A large percentage of coins that age have been dipped at one time or another.

dorkkarl

neither "good" nor "bad". some people just gotta have dipped coins in plastic!

however, me personally, i love coins with original patina and color, often ones that would look "ugly" to the non-specialist, but would look white if dipped.

when stuck with dipped bust coins in plastic, i do the following:

1 crack em all out
2 pop em in wayte-raymond boards
3 wait a few years

it actually takes a long time for this to work, but some of the coins i put in ten years ago have started to acquire a little patina.

PLEASE no insults that this is artificial toning. its better than the disgusting "dipped white" which itself is artificial.

BTW, a terrific issue and a great thread.

K S

Bear

Whatever makes you happy. When its your money being spent and your collection, indulge yourself. Bear

JimD

James,
Personaly, I prefer toned Bust Halves. I do, however, have one blast white half with cartwheel luster that is in it's own right a beautiful coin. I have noticed in recent auctions that blast white Bust Halves have been bringing some very strong bids that rival the nicely toned coins. I guess it comes down to personal preference. If you like them, they are keepers.

lordmarcovan

I think a light original toning is probably best, but only if it is evenly distributed.

Best? A nice toned original coin with maybe some yummy colors. But opinions on degree of toning vary. Better a white coin than one with ugly toning. You don't want any distractions- it's all about the coin and it's design, right? A white blazer, artificial or not, commands respect. If it is a MS example, then a white gem gives us a chance to see what the coin looked like when it left the Mint.

As long as a coin will make it into major grading service plastic, I for one do not care if it has been dipped or not, if I find it attractive. I personally would not want a coin that would net-grade or bodybag upon submission, though.

The 1898 Cameo proof Barber half you usually see as my icon (on days other than 9/11 when I must fly the flag) is just such a coin- it was dipped at one time, to remove blotchy toning and an old lacquering, I believe, if one researches its pedigree info from the Benson sale. It is now a stunning PCGS PR63 CAM (formerly in a non-CAM holder). The reverse (my icon) is DCAM. This is the sort of coin I would not like to see dark toning on- and blotchy green or black toning is sadly the norm on most proof Barbers I've seen. A little diperooney did my Benson baby good, in my opinion. (But I wasn't the one who "curated" it- I would never have dared. I bought it in the current CAM holder-never saw what it looked like before.)

PS- jamesfsm- I for one would love to see those beauties of yours. I've wanted a nice white (or lightly peripheral toned) MS Bust half for some time. Does that answer your question?

Placid

Dosen't matter to me as long as it's not "only a specialist could love" ugly.

BigD5

I can't stand white Bust coinage. That's about as subtle as my opinion will get on that subject
Then again, I'm not a big "untoned" fan anyway. I don't mind frosty white coins........I guess