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WingedLiberty1957

This is an NGC graded VF35 that I cannot figure out and would love some other expert opinions. My gut reaction when I first saw it was "this must have been cooked", as the blue is SO electric and bright. However I did scan CoinFacts and found a number of PCGS graded CBH's with this same electric blue color. This started me thinking that perhaps this blue color is somewhat common (perhaps?).

There is some elevation chromatics with the blue color (note how the blue color worked into the recesses of the coin (giving some added contrast to the hair detail). And I have heard that elevation chromatics is very difficult to cook.

It would not surprise me if this coin had an old light cleaning (which is pretty common) ... and then must have gotten some secondary album toning (at least) ... note how dark and rich the color is around the rim.

However I am still somewhat perplexed on the blue color. Note the area on the face ... the blue toning appears to be "worn away" on the high spots (see the hard border of color / no color on the cheek). So did this coin tone in an album ... and then circulate (to wear off some of the blue color?). I kind of find that scenerio hard to believe. Or perhaps the very worn spots didn't "take" to the color progressing?

Do you think this is just some clever cooking that slipped past NGC? Or might it fall in the market acceptable category in PCGS's eyes.

The reverse is pretty much untoned (with just a bit of darkening around the rim) ... which gives a least a little bit of credence to the secondary album toning theory.

stealer

Looks like accelerated (IMO) "album toning" gone wrong after a dipped/cleaned coin. The reason why many coins have this look is because they went through the exact same process so they can be rushed onto the market as "beautifully rainbow toned VF coin from 200 years ago" that so many eBay people love. For the record, it is MA to NGC based on their track record. PCGS seems a bit more wary in certifying this kind of color on Bust/Seated, and you usually only see XF and AU pieces with this kind of color in PCGS plastic.

WingedLiberty1957

A couple of other PCGS-graded 1830 CBH's with that blue color ...

stealer

The top one seems in line with PCGS standards. XF45 and bridging on a AU50. That's how they like them if they do happen to come with that kind of color. The VG is just another low-ball coin that I think any TPG could really care less whether it is MA or not MA. Not many people are going to pay a premium for a nicely toned VG coin, and the general public is wary of that kind of color at that grade level anyway. The only reason why there is such a debate between natural versus accelerated is precisely because people are willing to pay mind-blowing premiums for color, especially in the UNC level. If nobody paid a premium, I doubt anybody would give a fart about whether the coin is natural or not, and those who understand the toning process would probably attribute a negative premium to such coins not deemed natural.

BillJones

I think that this is an example of "original now" more accurately re-toning. It was dipped, and maybe lightly long ago and then stuck in an envelope made of something other than sulfur free paper. The higher areas that came in direct contact with the paper toned differently than the fields which a larger dose of air. The result looks okay, but it is not as attractive as the 1830 half dollar that follows it.

mozin

I don't see how this coin could have been dipped, and then placed in a paper envelope to tone. If it had been placed in such an envelope, I would have expected both sides of the coin to tone about the same. My guess is that someone used some AT method to blue up the obverse, and then the coin was somehow made to look like the blue wore off in the normal wear areas.

I doubt PCGS would grade this one saying Questionable Toning. Over many years, NGC has been far more accommodating in grading toned Bust coins.