Vintage Crackle AT Toning Resurfaces Images enclosed for Younger Collectors & Younger TPGS Graders.
Broadstruck
Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
This artificial toning method was popular about 20 years ago and you would see it very often on low value coins which could go for stupid money with a color premium such as common date Morgan & Peace $1's. On Early Commems it was mostly seen on issues that sold for around $100 or less in UNC along with far more seen on Booker T. Washington and Washington Carvers. 15-20 years ago some would make it into NGC holder along with other TPGS's like PCI and SEGS which come to mind. In the last couple years I've seen them make it into PCGS holder as they started popping up on Coinfacts. Having just seen another this morning it was time to make the younger folks that haven't been in this hobby for a few decades aware.
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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I've seen a few of these from time to time.
Anyone have any idea how this was done?
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
I recall a dealer at a show stating that the coins had been coated with some sort of high sulfur content jelly (maybe Vaseline?) with a thin piece of cellophane from like a pack of cigarettes pushed onto both sides. Apparently not a heat or cooking method as cellophane kept the jelly from drying out until it did its job then the coins just got rinsed off and submitted.
I've also seen it on 1940's Mercury and Roosevelt Dimes, 1950-60's Washington Quarters, Franklin, and 1964 Kennedy Halves.
It's easier to instantly spot on larger diameter coins... Might take a few seconds more on a Dime
From what I've seen over the years, the vintage commemorative half dollars were the main target.
I never understood the attraction for this type of tarnish....Just looks dirty to me.... @Broadstruck ... Thanks for the educational post...Cheers, RickO
I agree and the busier the design elements the more crackled, as seen on the Texas commem which was a another major culprit.
Greed by taking advantage of naive color enthusiasts.
I think we can all agree that paying extra for randomly colorful coins is the real problem. A fool and their money have an existential need to be parted. If its not splotches of color its condition rarity or shiny stickers
Years ago, I actually had a few commems with this type of toning. All sold several years ago. Most were in old green holders if I recall correctly.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Cameonut: One more questio. Will this 'toning' come off? I find it hideous.
Remember, this toning fooled EVERYONE at first. I believe this was the first type of artificial toning that I ever became aware of. I don't know who the first person was who condemned it.
PS I see the folks who wish to tell all of us what to appreciate and collect are awake and posting today.
It only fooled those that have not reached the proper stage of enlightenment . Those of us residing on that higher plane wouldn't pay any extra
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It fooled the top grading companies. And even if it hadn’t, that wouldn’t necessarily make buyers of the coins “naive” or “fools”.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
UGLY!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
But its ugly !!! so what were the buyers even thinking? If they weren't thinking crack that mess and dip it then they are too far gone to help here
Interesting post, Broadstruck. I've seen coins fitting that toning pattern from time to time, but luckily not in the series I mainly collect. Thanks for the information.
1TwoBits
Enlightenment is one thing. Selling a beautifully corroded coin for 10X the money it would be worth as the brilliant original one that is preferred by the "enlightened" crowd is another. While I don't force my tastes on others (something I find that most Liberals and ignorant do-gooders are guilty of) I enjoy learning what others like.
Many years ago, I saw numerous other examples that were attractive, not ugly. Regardless, your reply ignored the fact that top grading companies were fooled by some of the coins.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
True but maybe it indicates that the TPG's don't care all that much its a real coin and if they turned away ugly coins or coins that should not be submitted for other reasons there goes 90% of the revenue
Thanks for the post. It helps train my eye towards what to look out for and is a good reminder for everyone.
I have seen Gettysburgs, BTWs, and many other commems with this toning....often it is green-red-gold and can have a very attractive look until you realize it is AT. I think it was an attempt to replicate the feathery grey-blue toning one sees on silver that has been stored in a paper envelope for a long time.
Commems and Early Type
were they marking them off as AT back then ? Its a real coin with an assigned grade on the slab. If you decide to paddle up $hit creek beyond that point pcgs won't hand you a paddle. PCGS should not be responsible for any color premium speculation.
If the coin is in the price guide for $400 and some fool pays $2000 based on some splotchy green and red surface then that fool would probably just buy scratch tickets with their extra money anyway.
If a shifty seller wasn't trying to gouge the potential buyer based on color the question wouldn't even come up.
Is there a legitimate, accepted style of toning that bears a resemblance to this? This “crackled” appearance, though not necessarily the same color pattern, reminds me of what I’ve seen in images of Franklins. I know little about that series.
Great post, BroadStruck!
- Jim
Many are commenting that this one looks UGLY. But, as others have said, some were VERY attractive...
Most aren't this dark... The host coin's level of luster has a lot to do with the end results.
It depends how similar you want, but yes, there are naturally toned coins that can have a similar pattern and these are often 1950s era toned coins taken from original US government mint sets.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
@bronco2078 said: "True but maybe it indicates that the TPG's don't care all that much its a real coin and if they turned away ugly coins or coins that should not be submitted for other reasons there goes 90% of the revenue."
We have already established the fact that Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. I see hundreds of coins a day and truthfully, I can apply my opinion of "ugly" to less than five and most of the time NONE.
That old crackle finish was beautiful when it first came out. The coins were iridescent! Imagine a commemorative coin with blocks of sea-green, pink, aquamarine, tan and gold with flashes of eye-blinding white silver peeking out between the blocks.
PS Your 90% is both an uninformed and very wacky statement. I'm going to tell myself that you don't really believe that and have used hyperbole to bolster your opinion.
Of course its hyperbole
but if it makes you feel better within the 90% is every single piece of graded bullion . millions of silver eagles silver maples pandas , kooks koalas and modern clad dreck
Sorry, I'm really easy to confuse. The items you mention above probably comprise a large amount of a modern TPGS's business. As these issues are rarely UGLY this statement makes no sense to me at all: "if they turned away ugly coins or coins that should not be submitted for other reasons there goes 90% of the revenue."
Thats correct. A large part of the business should be sent back untouched not sure if its 90% but it might be close.
Bullion , modern dreck , anything already in a slab (job is already done why is it being sent back in fool ?) , sent back to the submitter with a caustically worded note . Charge them full rate and return the stuff untouched . They will get the message. With that sort of streamlining PCGS could lay a bunch of people off after a little while
, then maybe drop the prices 