Does anyone else shudder when see a low grade coin with rainbow toning?

wheatguy

I've always liked toning, but I can't stand seeing rainbow or basically any form of toning on low grade coins. Anyone else the same way?

claychaser

Well, I like this one:

SilverEagles92

Yes.

Even though that color can occur naturally in an album, it just doesn't look right on (heavily) circulated coins.

LostSisler

I shudder when I see a low grade coin with rainbow toning graded, I mean slabbed, WAY too high because of the toning.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

The Princeton Numismatic Department has a significant portion of their holdings in 2x2 manilla envelopes. The coins have been kept that way for a number of decades. A lot of the circ material (mostly Fine to Very Fine) has toned vivid rainbows through the surface crust---colors comparable to vibrant bag toned Morgans. They're actually quite beautiful, and 100% natural.

doh

YES!! I don't care if it's "natural" from an envelope or album, I think it looks terrible on lower grade circ coins. I want crusty gray, no rainbows!!

ricko

Any tarnish makes me shudder.... it is disgusting and should be removed. Cheers, RickO

blueifalcon

I can deal with natural toning, although I don't prefer it. Rainbow toning just doesn't seem natural to me on any coin. However, to each his own. Now, should I be a politician or what? Speaking out of both sides of my mouth boyyyyyyyyyyyeeee.

rhedden

Low grade rainbow toners are usually cleaned pieces that retoned naturally in an album or envelope. Non-cleaned, low-grade coins that show vibrant album toning through original crust are quite unusual. I've only seen a couple of them, and the colors weren't that bright. If you're looking at a VG Bust coin with bright rim toning, it's a good bet that it was at least lightly cleaned at some point.

Of course, AT is another way to get a rainbow VG.

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>Any tarnish makes me shudder.... it is disgusting and should be removed. Cheers, RickO >>



RickO -- if you didn't exist, we'd have to invent you.

Happy New (and tarnish-free) Year!

Justacommeman

I actually think album toning on circulated pieces is sexy and I'm a fan. Great look Claychaser! MJ

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i>I actually think album toning on circulated pieces is sexy and I'm a fan.MJ >>



Ditto.

shorecoll

Bright white AG coins make me shudder, don't get too many worn out bright white coins in circulation here.

TomB

<< <i>

<< <i>Any tarnish makes me shudder.... it is disgusting and should be removed. Cheers, RickO >>



RickO -- if you didn't exist, we'd have to invent you.

Happy New (and tarnish-free) Year! >>


I have a feeling that RickO is a big fan of White Christmas.

yellowkid

<< <i>Low grade rainbow toners are usually cleaned pieces that retoned naturally in an album or envelope. Non-cleaned, low-grade coins that show vibrant album toning through original crust are quite unusual. I've only seen a couple of them, and the colors weren't that bright. If you're looking at a VG Bust coin with bright rim toning, it's a good bet that it was at least lightly cleaned at some point.

Of course, AT is another way to get a rainbow VG. >>



This is my take on the subject, I've always felt that rainbow toning on circulated pieces was an old cleaned coins that subsequently found a home in an album. I couldn't make a categoric statement about how I liked such pieces, it all depends on the coin.

soty27

<< <i>Any tarnish makes me shudder.... it is disgusting and should be removed. Cheers, RickO >>



Everytime I see you post it makes me shudder at the amount of original coins you have destoyed.

Stuart

I try not to make too many generalizations about the eye appeal of various coins, and prefer to judge each coin based on its own merit and my personal preferences for eye appeal.

Barry

There are probably 100x more toned high grade coins than low grade coins. There's more money in it.

littlebear

<< <i>

<< <i>Any tarnish makes me shudder.... it is disgusting and should be removed. Cheers, RickO >>



Everytime I see you post it makes me shudder at the amount of original coins you have destoyed. >>




I like both white and toned coins. While I dislike AT coins, I shudder when I see a coin that has been dipped in a pathetic manner to get that delusional "right from the mint" look. I despise that AW (artificially white) look! But, differences in opinions and our likes and dislikes is what makes this hobby so interesting. Happy New Year everyone! May it be happy, healthy, and prosperous!


Larry L.

19Lyds

No, I do not "shudder".

Left alone for long enough, all the low grade, circulated stuff is eventually going to tone since toning is a natural occurance.

Of course, the alternative is to dip them which always evokes "shudders" coupled with boo's and hisses!

littlebear

<< <i>I try not to make too many generalizations about the eye appeal of various coins, and prefer to judge each coin based on its own merit and my personal preferences for eye appeal. >>




Probably the best response I have ever read in any discussion regarding the "toning vs white" debate.


Larry L.

BillJones

<< <i>Well, I like this one:



>>



This coin is okay with me because the colors are subtle. But I see some well circualted (VF or less) silver coin with bright colors, it's a real turn-off. The best it can be is a lucky result from dipping, and since circulated coins should not be dipper it the first place it is not pleasing. The worst is "coin doctor magic" which can ruin a perfectly good choice circulated coins.

wheatguy

<< <i> This coin is okay with me because the colors a subtle. But I see some well circualted (VF or less) silver coin with bright colors, it's a real turn-off. The best it can be is a lucky result from dipping, and since circulated coins should not be dipper it the first place it is not pleasing. The worst is "coin doctor magic" which can ruin a perfectly good choice circulated coins. >>



. I recently went to a local shop, and the cases were full of very low grade coins that had retoned and had bright rainbow colors that would look great on any MS coin, except that these were very low grade and cleaned. I can't stand those, I like low grade coins that are crusty and maybe have a light patina.

leothelyon

<< <i>

<< <i> This coin is okay with me because the colors a subtle. But I see some well circualted (VF or less) silver coin with bright colors, it's a real turn-off. The best it can be is a lucky result from dipping, and since circulated coins should not be dipper it the first place it is not pleasing. The worst is "coin doctor magic" which can ruin a perfectly good choice circulated coins. >>



. I recently went to a local shop, and the cases were full of very low grade coins that had retoned and had bright rainbow colors that would look great on any MS coin, except that these were very low grade and cleaned. I can't stand those, I like low grade coins that are crusty and maybe have a light patina. >>



Similar to a few dealers at a coin show but I have never asked them why all their coins look the same, a dull luster. Day after day, show after show, nobody tells them that there's something wrong with the appearence of their coins. "Sir! Why do all your coins look like they've been through the washer?" You would think that they would figure it out for themselves someday but they must be making their sales. Like it's not enough, when I only glance at their wares as I pass by their tables. They'd be better off sponsering the box of detergent they use, "Hi, I use MR Clean. What do you use?"


Leo

ricko

Thank you Dave and TomB.... and Soty27, I have not destroyed a single coin. Cheers, RickO

soty27

<< <i>Thank you Dave and TomB.... and Soty27, I have not destroyed a single coin. Cheers, RickO >>



IMO your dipping does just that.

PQType

Here is my PCGS F12... I love this coin Be honest know what is the first word you thought of when you saw this.

cornbread

claychaser, the coin you posted is really neat. I love the way Liberty and the eagle are worn, and the subtle toning complements them. That coin has a lot of character.

TwoSides2aCoin

<< <i>Here is my PCGS F12... I love this coin Be honest know what is the first word you thought of when you saw this.

>>



Old

Marauderrt10

<< <i>Thank you Dave and TomB.... and Soty27, I have not destroyed a single coin. Cheers, RickO >>



sure you have, every coin that you own has been overly dipped, dull and unoriginal, but if you like that then go for it.

littlebear

<< <i>Here is my PCGS F12... I love this coin Be honest know what is the first word you thought of when you saw this.

>>




"History." If only it could talk and tell us its history! What a story that would be!


Larry L.

Moldnut

<< <i>Bright white AG coins make me shudder, don't get too many worn out bright white coins in circulation here. >>




You will see plenty of them when BNB gets a hold of a bag full crusty coins

darktone

I sold a 32-D washington a few years ago that was AG that had really cool colored toning- it sold with-in minutes of being listed on the BST forum.

fc

i think of anaconda....

blueifalcon

I think "sexy"

DRUNNER

Just an opinion on some of the more inferred ideas of the post . .

When coins circulate, the natural oils and grime present in the circulation process impinge upon the surface that would otherwise gather toning. The 'circulation cameo' look many prize is the result of that in silver while the chestnut or mahogany look in older copper results from the same process. When a colored toning is present of a piece that is fairly well circulated, the inferred (by some, but not any particular poster here) history is that the surface has been altered in some way to allow a toning to begin 'again' on an 'original' surface, after the circulation process has been well underway. Some may then feel the piece is no longer 'original' in their eyes.

But coins take infinite paths in their circulation process until they get to our collections. Perhaps some toned in ways that have absolutely nothing to do with any numismatic scheme or premium and might therefor be as natural as a circ. cameo or mahogany piece of copper. Also, the toning debate has been and always will be, a continuum. We have 'crust' on one end, and 'neon' on the other, but a huge continuum in between. All of us use our own definition of originality and eye appeal as it relates to that continuum, so circulated coins with rainbow toning will fall into the realm of personal choice.

Personally, I like several of the ones I see in this post. I do not like the majority I see in other venues.

Happy New Year . .

Drunner

ricko

Ah yes... now we must deal with the 'assumption' group..... it is assumed my coins are overly dipped and unnatural. Rubbish. I do not buy toned coins. It is amazing how people assume things with absolutely no factual knowledge and then spew it forth here on the forum. Incredible. Cheers, RickO

jdillane

I seconded Stuart's avatar and now am happy to second his reply to this thread.

Absolutes and assumptions are best avoided.

CharlotteDude

I like the look of both the '95 FH and the '07 DB coins. I used to have an '05 bust dime that had lovely target toning of blue & magenta... not captured fully in the pics below, but if you held it in hand, you'd have a deep appreciation for its look. It was in a F-12 PCGS holder.



regards,

'dude

claychaser

Thanks for the comments on the 95 flowing hair half. I believe that the toning is from being stored in an album for a very long time, and the coin may possibly have had a soap and water dunking a very long time ago. But for me, I like the colors on it, and I like just looking at it under 5X (to compensate for me being an old man needing 1.25 reading glasses) and wondering where it has been through its time in commerce. I'd love to locate a dollar coin to match it.

These threads are what makes the forum enjoyable - candid pro and con arguments stated in a civil way.

So, lets see some more circulated toners, and let the forumites opine on them!

claychaser

C-Dude: That is a nice dime! TrainNut would likely want this for his draped bust set!

greghansen

I like the 1807 Half quite a bit. I'm less enthused about the 1795 Dollar...though some of that is surely jealousy since I currently don't own one! It is my experience that MOST of the time, colored toning detracts from or is symptomatic of problems with a circulated coin. Rarely, however, as the two posted illustrate, it can be considered a positive. I would run very fast from any display case that had more than a handful of circulated coins with strong colorful toning.

TennesseeDave

No,I have seen plenty of lower grade(Vf-Xf)coins that have beautiful toning from being stored in a album for decades.Some of them may have been dipped prior to being put in the album.