What's the "Normal" reaction when family or friends first view toned coins

stman

I introduced a few toned coins to my Granddaughter (she's almost 12) a while back and she likes them. In fact at a small show I took her to she was showing the Dealers how the coins were toning.

But when I showed My Daughter and Son in law... they just had that look like George Bush did during the elections. You know when he made his first few speeches and was looking at the teleprompter? The "Deer in the headlights look." A friend had the same look.

Is this a normal reaction to someone who has never seen a nicely toned coin?

MadMonk

oooooooh, that's pretty! Can I have it?

FrattLaw

That coin is dirty.

Michael

PS -- Hey is your granddaughter going to enter the giveaway?

jeffnpcb

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT CRAP?!!!!! CAN"T YOU CLEAN IT OFF WITH SILVER POLISH OR DIP!!!!

MY RESPONSE:

ccr

<< <i>That coin is dirty. >>



I feel your pain. I get the same reaction.

DanC

As one who has experienced the transition... I can say that my first reaction to them was

YUK! - they're all crapped up -

I wanted every coin to be a frosty blast-white with deep black mirrors.
Now - mind you... I STILL like beautiful perfect proofs, but I've found that toned coins have "character" - and are unique. I think it's an acquired taste, much like 12-year old scotch.

I think scotch sucks btw... no matter how old, but I sure love toned coins now. More importantly - toned coins can be often purchased cheaply - and sold for great profits. That's what I'm into right now. After securing suitable employment, I imagine I may become a bit more interested in "collecting" them.

My all-time favorite (thus far... I'm going to keep an open mind) is rainbow Morgans. Second only to Morgans is toned Jeffersons.

Spinynorman

The only coin that I have that my wife really likes is my bilge dime.

BillJones

"This could sure use some silver polish!!"

rd5425

Everytime I show friends or family toned coins they always seem to think its some kind of tarnish and tell me to clean it or dip it in some polish.

littlewicher

I get oohs and ahhs, then they're like it's still only worth a penny or a nickel.

Dog97

stman the only reaction I get from my toned Morgans is mild interest. They don't seem to be much interested in the toning but rather can't get over the fact that a coin can be over 100 years old and still be in "mint condition." They think THAT'S really something.
If I try to explain the whyfors that's when they go deer in the spotlight.

bootleg3

YUK!!!

wingedliberty

This is an excellent question. Usually the response is "looks tarnished!". or as said before, it needs to be "cleaned"


Brian

thadd

I’ve gotta hand it to whoever figured out a way to capitalize on toning. I wonder if I could go snatch up all the uncalculated brown Lincolns and convince everyone they are pretty. Cha-ching!

stman

I guess we all belong here as we have a certain language that we understand. Dog, I know what you mean about them being impressed with a 100 year old coin being unc. I show my Daughter a ms65, and although she likes them, she will point to a couple bag marks and say "not too much circulation on this one." Try and explain that it's still unc? Forget about it

callawayc7

I can't even give them away. I swear to god. I tried to give a circulated toned Morgan to my friend to give to his kid and he said, " He's not going to want that! He wants something white." True story. He never took the coin.

Baley

"dirty" "dark" "tarnished" "old looking" "needs cleaning"

here, look at it and rotate it under this lamp...

"ooo" "wow" "pretty"

it's worth a lot more because of those colors.

"really?" "to who?"

collectors of "monster rainbows"

"oh."

here's a bright white one worth one fourth as much

"I like that one better"

Louis

I've got some Tarn-X.

SeattleSlammer

stman,

For the uninitiated, I get a "wow, cool" reaction....but I always also feel compelled to show them a nice white coin of the same denomination and design just so they can really appreciate what forces were at work to create the colors on the other one (natural forces, hopefully).

More often people are dumbfounded by all the writing on the slab......

TONEDDOLLARS

My wife knows better now, but when I first started my collection of toned Morgans the tarnished comment was used all the time. In fact her comment went something like "if I gave you a spoon or fork that looked like that you would not be that giddy". I just shake the head and walk away.

ARCO

"Cool coin...how old is it? Neat...where did you get it? You buy them at coin shops? whatdcha pay?"

"ARE YOU F****NG CRAZY!! You paid that much for a coin!!!!"

Thats how most of my friends react.

Tyler

MoneyLA

First reaction: pretty.

Second reaction: you paid HOW MUCH??

Third reaction: so when are you buying me a new car (comment from son, daughter, ex-wife #1, ex-wife #2)

cheers, alan mendelson

gsaguy

<<Third reaction: so when are you buying me a new car (comment from son, daughter, ex-wife #1, ex-wife #2)>>

And the response from your future ex-wife?

GSAGUY

toyonakataro

My boss said "ugly" at a glance and laughed at me to know how much I paid for it.
My wife said "pretty" and satisfied with the price I paid because I told her 10% what I really paid for it.

stman

Some funny replies here, and kinda what I thought. I've also noticed most peoples concern when I show them a coin is "So what's it worth?" I try to explain it's a hobby for me, but when they insist I give them this reply... It's not worth anything to you."