Rainbow Morgans

JoshL

Hi

New to the forum...and have been reading through the different threads...lot of good information...and apparently a lot of serious collectors in the group.

I am starting my collection of Morgan Dollars...they have always been my favorite.

I am interested in Toned Coins...especially the rainbow coins. I am wondering if someone could answer several questions for me regardling these type of coins.

First off can you tell me how these coins get the rainbow toned look to them...

Second...is it usually the higher MS number coins that get these colors?

Third...does the rainbow color...tones...make the coins more desirable to collectors?

Thanks for the information...look forward to reading this group. Very nice!

PTVETTER

I have some toned morgans posted on the registry board.

Russ

Welcome aboard! Got proof JFKs?

Here's a nice Morgan for you:





Russ, NCNE

Geoman

Sorry, I know next to nothing about Morgans.

But, wanted to WELCOME you to the group. A lot of good info can be found in these forums.

relayer

Hi and Welcome

First off can you tell me how these coins get the rainbow toned look to them...
It is a chemical reaction between the metal in the coin and the elements in the storage container that occurs over time.

Second...is it usually the higher MS number coins that get these colors?
No, a toned coin can be raised a point for it's color, but I'd say most grade 63-64 but it depends on the coin.

Third...does the rainbow color...tones...make the coins more desirable to collectors?
Today it does. White is out and color is in.

Lori

I too love toned Morgans & Franklins and I am new to collecting as well. I choose what I like regardless of grades or if they are slabbed or not. Here is my favorite bag toned morgan. Hope you like.

Lori

ccr

Hello and welcome to the boards. There`s a good number of people here that are Morgan Dollar and Tone collectors.

to answer your questions:

1) There`s several ways that it can happen. One being the fact that they where stored in canvas bags by banks. By law, banks are required to have a set amount of money on hand because of being FDIC Insured. FDIC, if I remember right, was set into place by Roosevelt during the depression to keep banks open and the flow of money going. So Silver and Gold coinage where held in canvas bags in thier vaults to prove that they can back up there transactions. After many years in these bags, they toned.

Another way is collectors putting them in cardboard albums like Whitman Holders. These are the two most common but not the only way these were toned.

2) The only toned Morgan dollar I have is a cresent rainbow thats graded MS63. So no not always.

3) Yes!!! The more pleasing it is, the more people will pay above the averege price.

As I said before, there are some Morgan Dollar collectors here and feel free to ask questions. Thats largely why we`re all here for.

jbsteven

see my icon........

I too have a few others in the collection. I like the canvas bag (cresent rainbows) and album toned coins (bullseye around the edges). I am not a fan of textile toning (dots), yet.

gsaguy

Welcome to the boards JoshL!! Hope you stick around and contribute as well as learn. There's a wealth of info here.

In answer to your questions:

1) As stated by others, silver coins tone from a variety of sources. Basically, sulfur molecules in the atmosphere close to the coin's surface react with silver molecules and form a thin layer of silver sulfide. This thin layer then alters how light reflects back to the viewer's eye thereby resulting in the rainbow effect. Wayne Miller's book on Morgan Dollars gives an excellent description of the entire process.

2) Any coin can tone over time but I believe that mint state coins tend to produce more vibrant colors because most of the coin's luster is still in place. Because so many Morgan Dollars were never released into circulation but were held in bags, you tend to see a higher percentage of mint state versus circulated dollars with toning. Coins in all mint state grades can be found with attractive color, but obviously those in the higher grades are the most desirable.

3) Color is a matter of preference. Some collectors want nothing to do with color coins. And then there are those of us who are addicted.

GSAGUY

kyleknap

Josh,

Can you do me a favor and turn on your private-message ability? (under your profile settings). Sometimes it's easier to talk that way.

To answer your questions in short,

1. As others have said, dollars are toned from their environment. The toning is actually a thin film on the surface of the coin that occurs as a result of the reaction of the metal in the coin and something else, like the sulfur in a mint bag or roll.

2. The number of bagmarks, strike, and eye-appeal determine the grade of a coin. While toning may have some effect on the grade (as it effects the eye-appeal), it is not related to the others in any way. I have seen incredibly toned MS61's, as well as MS67's.

3. Yes. (Well, to most people anyway. Where's Iwog these days?).

Kyle

Rover

Wow cool, JoshL has my icon that I uploaded. It disappeared shortly after I uploaded and now its back.
Dan

FlyTooHigh

Welcome to the forums!

Tony

Hadleydog

Welcome aboard, JoshL.

indianabyron

Welcome to the forum JoshL

Byron

nwcs

Welcome. A great resources I STRONGLY recommend is the video "How to Tell Artificial Toning on Coins" from the ANA. It will answer many of your questions (including a brief discussion on how the toning happens) and provide valuable information on how not to get taken on toned coins. You can get it here. It's at the bottom of the page.

Neil

DanC

OH MAN! Lori... that Morgan is drop-dead gorgeous! Very nice!

Must be a "toning gene" or something that was "switched off" before, and has awakened in me.