A new twist to the AT or not debate.

MastaHanky

I've had this coin for about a year, and when I first got it, it was bright white.

Now it has shades of red, gold, and deep blue that this scan doesn't even begin to do justice to.

How did this piece acquire these colors?

When I put the coin in my safe (it was in a flip), I didn't notice that a dog hair (Alaskan Malamute to be exact ) had also slipped its way into the flip. The coin toned where the hair was sitting.

Since I did not do anything to create the tone on the coin, we could say the coin has natural toning, right? But if I had intentionally placed the dog hair there, I would have caused the coin to tone by artificial means. How can PCGS tell if I intentionally placed the dog hair in the flip or not?

And how many of you are now going to go find a dog hair and try doing this?

kieferscoins

Good questions.



<< <i>And how many of you are now going to go find a dog hair and try doing this? >>



I just booked a flight to Alaska to find some original dogs. Then I will make a killing.

Cameron Kiefer

FC57Coins

Hey Dave - you can start a cottage industry with your pooch. Maybe even set up a table at your next local coin show!

lathmach

Looks like a genuine natural malamute toned coin.
I don't think I'd do that malamute hair toning intentionally though. That toning doesn't look all that great.
If you want the coin to really look sharp, go with Irish Setter hair.

Ray

Russ

And, if toning dimes, use poodle of wiener dog hair.

Russ, NCNE

DanC

hmmm... I wonder what Nigerian goat hair would do?

(scurries off to the south 40 to rustle up one of the goats)

Clankeye

Was that a dog hair?

Or Iwog hair?

byergo

What would Bigfoot hair do?

Dog97

Imagine what the rest of your coins would look like if you had put the whole dog in your safe.

Flash

Imagine what the rest of your coins would look like if you had put the whole dog in your safe.

The coins may have toned nicely, but I suspect the dog would come out looking the worse for wear.

Placid

Any guess for the reason the hair caused the toning?

nwcs

I bet it is decomposition, the breakdown of the hair material interacting with the coin surface. Not to mention the oils and possibly (depending on where the hair originated at) traces of other things. Such as saliva, ear wax, flea medicine, etc.

Neil

Pushkin

MastaHanky,

Fantastic post. I'm getting tired of all the extra Fresh Step Cat Litter that I've had to buy to keep giving the natural look to my coins, not to mention the fact that the "smell test" is a dead give away. But dog hair! Wow, I'll try the same with cat hair and keep you posted. Will also check out some hybrid FreshStep/cat hair natural toning formula.

"I'll sell no AT'd dime before its time."

RLinn

I must take issue with this thread! I think MastHanky's concern over natural vs. AT in this case is just "splitting hairs."