Grading toned coins

ProofCents

Is the grading any different from toned coins as it is for normal coins? Do the graders apply weight to eye appeal of toning? The PCGS book is vague about this issue.

ProofCents

Well i was hoping for more incite than that.

rainbowroosie

Really pretty toning will boost the grade half a point most of the time.

scottgardener

PCGS has a reputation for grading more strictly by the ANA book, ignoring toning. Archrival NGC will on occasion give a "star" designation next to the grade of a coin with particularly noteworthy toning. Both services have been known to holder a coin reverse-side forward if the reverse has particularly remarkable toning when the obverse does not. The major graders tend to be pretty "tone-deaf," in the sense that they do not allow pretty colors or ugly mottling to modify a coin's underlying merits. (They do count off on grading both copper and gold for dark spots, though.)

While this might seem a bit wrong at first, it does help keep grading objective, and it allows toning to remain a unique feature that keeps coin collecting from being too easily reduced to sight-unseen numbers tracking. Just today, I paid double on an MS64 common date Morgan dollar, because it has such an interesting toned obverse.

BAJJERFAN

As HRH has said when it comes to grading, toning adds a little, but forgives a lot. I have quite a few Morgans hodered reverse up. Normally you have to ask for that, but sometimes they do it on their own. I had a few come back reverse up without my asking and they weren't all that great.

TahoeDale

I agree that fab toning may only add half to a full point to the technical grade. But what it does to the value of a coin depends on the denomination.

For commems and Morgan dollars, that might normally have a value under $500, it can multiply by 3 to 10 times what you might have to pay.

For Barbers, maybe 20% increase.

For Seated, also 20 to 30%

For Indian cents, that are super colorful, ? but will add a nice %

For CBH's, in the AU range, double or more.

In the MS 63 and above range, 30 to 50%.

The less expensive coins will have the largest % increase.