Toned Moderns

pmh1nic

Someone used this term (toned moderns) in a thread the central theme of which was a discussion of emerging markets. They stated (not verbatim) that he (the poster) feels the next strong emerging market will be for toned modern coins. That post couplied with the posting of a picture of a deeply toned 2001 SAE caused me to ponder the following, part of which was posted in an earlier thread. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this and your answer to the questions at the end of this post.


But First: WARNING, WARNING, WARNING....THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT MODERN BASHING!!!


"Someone posted a picture of a toned 2001 SAE the other day. Regardless of the fact that it was slabbed by one of the major grading services my understanding of the toning process tells me with a high level of certainty that the only way a coin of that vintage could toned that dramatically in such a short period of time is that got some intentional help (translate that to mean ATed). It wouldn't matter to me what the coin looked like or who slabbed it I would not be interested in it (no offense to my friend that posted the pic ).

I don't have a problem with people experimenting with their coins (hey, the coins belong to them). I enjoy naturally toned coins, coins that through unintentional, historical happenstance somehow managed to survive and acquire attractive color. The unpredictable, unintentional characteristic of the toning adds a certain amount of mystic and value to the coin (at least for me). I view this toning as a testament to the fact that the coins have survived through a period of history where the lack of modern climate control and the chemicals contained in the storage media in rare cases produced these beautiful colors.

That time is gone. We live in a period of history where it's relatively easy to control the storage environment and where the storage media is relatively free of the substances that produce toning. I wouldn't consider paying a premium for toning on a coin that was minted after the mid-1960's regardless of who slabbed it or what it looks like simply because in all likelihood the coin was probably "helped" in acquire that toning (somewhat arbitrary date but I think that's about the time the Mint stopped using the paper and cardboard holders for Mint Sets)."

Are you highly suspect of relatively modern coins (lets say minted in the last 25 years) that have dramactic toning? Given modern climate control and storage media do you feel that modern toned coins are much more like to be have been ATed (intentionally help in acquiring its toning)?

Whether you like the toning is your personal preference. What I'm trying to understand is if you'd classify the toning on moderns as being ATed in almost every instance.

braddick

There's a Burger King commercial running right now with the theme music blaring in the background, "I Like It Like That!!"
(Ironically, it shows a flame dancing on the screen too!).

These "Modern" (Contemparary?) "Toned" coins are fun.
If they're REAL (ie: not enhanced on purpose, so to speak) they're even more fun!

Thank goodness that's really all there is to it. . . I Like It Like That!

gsaguy

As a fan of beautifully toned coins, I can say that I do enjoy the colors of many of the modern pieces. And I understand your concern about the colors you see on Silver Eagles.....especially those as minted as recently as 2001. While I've not ever purchased any white, placed them in a suitable environment, and then waited for them to tone, I do believe that these coins can tone very rapidly....and in many cases, without any 'help'. Afterall, they are virtually 100% pure silver as opposed to other coinage.

Beyond that, the only 'moderns I collect/handle are fromt the 50's and 60's on up to the early 1980's. And while I often times think of coins from the 50's and 60's as moderns, I need only remind myself that I'll soon hit 50 to realize that they're not that modern at all.

GSAGUY

pmh1nic

GSA

Yes, the big 50! I'm there and not feeling very modern . At 50 and absent a lot of cosmetic alterations I expect to look this way; bald, wrinkled and with liver spots and odd stuff growing on my body (my poor analogy for toning on a coin). Being 2 years old and in the same condition is unnatural and an indication of a very serious disease (accelerated aging or in coinspeak ATed)