Poll: Dark Coins

CalGold

This place is boring. I am revitalizing an old poll.


CG

Swampboy

I think dark original Morgans look cool.

drtom77

I buy some dark coins if the mirrors can be seen to be hard and clear. Th color should be dark but a color not just black or ugly brown. Blue, blue-green, magenta, copper color are okay in my collection. Generally these are cheaper now and I expect that they will stay cheaper for the near (far?) future. Dark is okay if not ugly.

dogwood

Deep tobacco Brown devices with pastel charcoal around the outer rim on anything below an AU 50 works for me. However the closer to, and including mint state it is, I prefer a lighter tone. Thanks for asking.

darktone

I like dark toning.

eyoung429

Love dark toning

Darkmane

LOVE dark coins. Once you go dark, you never go back.... or something like that.

yevrah

The 1882 Morgan in my registry set has a very unusual and IMO attractive patina. I am very pleased owning this example. I don't know how to post a picture but try this link to my photo in my set.
http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/publishedset.aspx?s=14741&ac=1

mozin

Normally, I avoid darkly toned Busties and Classic Commemoratives.

CalGold

Anyone else want to vote? So far it looks like the circulated capped bust guys have voted in droves.
CG

drtom77

I have not voted because none of the choices fit my thoughts very well. I do accept (sometimes prefer toned coins, even dark coins). I do not believe they should command a premium but do not just accept them because I cannot afford a more brilliant example. I do not agree with the last choice because I do not think I am giving anything up at all to obtain a nice example with dark toning.

OKbustchaser

What drtom said.

Steve27

Where's the " I collect what I like, and it differs for each type" choice?

fc

steve is right on.

is this a silver poll?

i like dirty gold coins with tons of luster. ;-)

Newmismatist

<< <i>I like dark toning. >>



A little eyecandy for those who like "Dark Toning!"

mrcommem

I usually don't like dark toning but in the coin below I can't give a good reason why a coin from 1700's should not be toned darkly.

Cladiator

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!



<< <i> >>

tcmitssr

I won't shy away from dark toned coins if they have eye appeal even though dark and that the darkness doesn't hide marks etc.

I have a darker Maryland commem in PCGS 66 that is stunning. It's almost dark copper on both sides but also has significant blue, green and red highlights mixed in.

clarkbar04

Depends on the circumstance - I like some dark coins, some are just ugly though.

Cladiator

My favorite and only commem.

stman

Cladiator

ricko

I buy what attracts me... be it dark or light... Cheers, RickO

Cladiator

stman

Smooooth......

CalGold

Interesting results, with the forum pretty evenly split between the lovers and haters of dark coins. I suspect that many of the lovers collect circulated draped and capped bust material.

As one poster (Drtom 77) pointed out there are coins out there that are deeply but colorfully toned. Those are the ones that at first glance look charcoal grey but when you tilt them into the light a panoply of color is revealed. I agree that these can be very tempting.

Sadly, the vote of a number of members indicated that they were intimidated by forum flamers from openly expressing their views here.

CG

drtom77

<< <i>I won't shy away from dark toned coins if they have eye appeal even though dark and that the darkness doesn't hide marks etc.

I have a darker Maryland commem in PCGS 66 that is stunning. It's almost dark copper on both sides but also has significant blue, green and red highlights mixed in. >>



Yeah, that's what I'm tallkin' about

CalGold

<< <i>and that the darkness doesn't hide marks etc. >>



I don't understand this part. To me the one advantage of deep toning is that it does hide marks thereby improving the appearance of the coin-- as long as you have scoped the marks out before your bought.

CG

TwoSides2aCoin

The darker the coin, the deeper the history, not to mention deeper pockets.

slumlord98

Dark doesn't necessarily mean original.

TwoSides2aCoin

True slumlord.

drtom77

<< <i>Dark doesn't necessarily mean original. >>



And once again that is the key to all of this. Look at the coin. If you like it buy it.

yellowjacket

Since I like Buffalo nickels, I've found that dark toning can be a sign of serious trouble. Now some the dark coins pictured here are very nice; however, I stay away from dark Buffs.

Garrow

FatMan

<< <i> Interesting results, with the forum pretty evenly split between the lovers and haters of dark coins. >>

More so, yours is an interesting interpretation of the results. I read the results as the huge majority of members (84%) find dark toned coins acceptable and only a very small handful find them to be ugly and not worthy of purchase.

As for your mention of intimidation, I was one of the five votes for that option because I thought for sure it had to be a joke.

CalGold

TTT after 6.5 years

bosco5041

I think older coins such as draped bust, bust, and seated look great with dark fields and lighter devices. Circ cameos in other words.

crypto79

Man a lot of people have left.

I don't mind dark but am not a fan of ugly. Dark is often but not always a first step towards ugly as the dark side of the rainbow isn't full of pretty colors. That said I love lustrous net graded for darkness coins! One of my best coins
It is really an AU50 but net grade for it's dark obv

keyman64

I'm generally NOT a fan. I avoid them at all cost but I can see an exception every now and then, like what happened to me at FUN.
I Cherrypicked a Possible Top Pop Mercury Dime Variety. Exception made...

nk1nk

I love dark toned coins!

Nick

NGC MS65
[URL=http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/nk1nk/media/c34142129-1a_w2560.jpg.html][/URL]

NGC MS63
[URL=http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/nk1nk/media/c34142188-1a_w2560.jpg.html][/URL]

PCGS MS63
[URL=http://s1224.photobucket.com/user/nk1nk/media/KGrHqZjFC9M0mITLBQKkUGeWg60_57.jpg.html][/URL]

BillJones

I can't really answer this poll because none of the responses fit my position on this question. The really choice color for circulated old silver coins is gray. It can range from light to dark gray, but no not black. Here are a couple of examples.

This 1798 Draped Bust, Small Eagle dollar is graded VF-35.




This 1803 Bust dollar is in a Secure Plus holder and grades AU-53.




When it comes to Mint State an Proof coins, darker toning is fine with me ONLY if the mint luster shows strongly within the toning. In other words when you swirl the coin under a strong light, the cartwheel luster must show on a Mint State coin and the mirrors must be evident on a Proof. If the mint luster has been dimmed to a considerable extent or removed all to together by the toning, I would not consider paying Mint State or strong Proof money such a piece.

I have seen highly graded Proof coins, mostly Barber pieces, that had toning that go so far that the mirrors no longer showed on the surface of the coin. Despite the fact that these pieces had no hairlines, they were still "culls" IMO because they were "dead" and have no mirrors.

MS-65 Mint State coin with dark toning.




Choice Proof - 64 Seated quarter with dark toning.

ricko

Thanks once again BillJones for your educational contribution.... My only addition to the post I made 6.5 years ago, would be that 'crusty' coins can be interesting as well..... Cheers, RickO