Just for fun, what are some of your favorite words or phrases used to describe coins?
Here are a couple that come to mind for me, each of which pertains to toning and is very rarely used:
jewel tones
melted crayons
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Comments
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black beauty
boner tonerWorry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire16 -
I like very few but "hammered" resonates with me.
tempus fugit extra philosophiam.6 -
Iridescent
Cartwheel
Crusty
Chocolate BrownLiberty Seated and Trade Dollar Specialist3 -
Iridescent is a word I love to use to describe a certain kind of toning. "For the discerning collector" is a phrase that I see certain dealers use , and it catches my attention and makes me look again usually.
One phrase that entertains me is when a certain e-bay seller uses "razor sharp" to describe their well worn, almost slick Barber quarters.
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@jedm said:
Iridescent is a word I love to use to describe a certain kind of toning. "For the discerning collector" is a phrase that I see certain dealers use , and it catches my attention and makes me look again usually.One phrase that entertains me is when a certain e-bay seller uses "razor sharp" to describe their well worn, almost slick Barber quarters.
Perhaps they meant that they are so thin you can shave with them.

RIP Mom- 1932-20126 -
The invented terminology tickles me. “Reverse horse sneeze” is my latest fav. That would be a horse fart, maybe?
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Among friends privately “ugly”.
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dog
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"coruscating"
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Battleship Gray for perfect original circulated silver coins.
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"Opalescent"
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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@Barberian said:
"coruscating"Had to look that up in a dictionary. Lol.
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Leave it to MFeld to start a thread where we all have to get our dictionaries out
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Pearlescent.
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@DeplorableDan said:
Leave it to MFeld to start a thread where we all have to get our dictionaries out

@DeplorableDan, your perspicuousness is on display.

Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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David Bowers once described a scarce classic coin that had a pit or a dig in it. He was able to add a positive spin by stating the mark made it possible to identify this example from all others. I forget the exact wording yet do recall it was precise and purposeful. I admired him for many reasons and that was certainly one of them.
Specific to this topic's question:
"Problem-free"
"Pocket-piece"
"Hard Dove Gray Surfaces"3 -
Hammered.
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"Blast White" and "Hammered".
Donato
Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)0 -
I've seen a negative attribute such as a copper spot on a gold coin or a carbon spot on a copper coin described as giving the coin "character".

Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire2 -
@braddick said:
David Bowers once described a scarce classic coin that had a pit or a dig in it. He was able to add a positive spin by stating the mark made it possible to identify this example from all others. I forget the exact wording yet do recall it was precise and purposeful. I admired him for many reasons and that was certainly one of them.I'm guessing it was something to the effect of "This mark/flaw serves to identify this example."
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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A bit off topic, but all the same, I enjoy it when they show me the size of the quarter that I want to buy:
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fugly
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post mint damage
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My coin Monster your coin crap, if you’re trying to sell it to me.🤪
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"This is a fun piece." Generates interest almost every time I use it.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.2 -
Gem, that is my favorite when applied correctly.
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Top pop
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@MFeld said:
@braddick said:
David Bowers once described a scarce classic coin that had a pit or a dig in it. He was able to add a positive spin by stating the mark made it possible to identify this example from all others. I forget the exact wording yet do recall it was precise and purposeful. I admired him for many reasons and that was certainly one of them.I'm guessing it was something to the effect of "This mark/flaw serves to identify this example."
"pedigree marker"
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As long as frosty devices look like they were freshly carved from a block of ice and contrast BOLDY against the incredibly DEEP MIRRORS, I am a buyer. It doesn't hurt if no ticks are visible, even with the aid of a STRONG GLASS.
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“Scrumptious” usually seen with chocolate brown copper. 😳😂
Seated Half Society member #38
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."4 -
I like “slider” since I collect slabbed AU coins that give the impression of being MS at first glance
Mr_Spud
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PCGS Certified CAC Approved Problem Free usually catches my eye when looking on EBAY
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Ohhh I forgot about one of my favorites for eac, which was imparted upon me by @Walkerguy21D
"Scudzy"
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My favorite I’ve seen to date is:
“Very foolishly cleaned.”
The combination of honesty and the seller’s almost palpable exasperation with one of the coin’s former owners made me chuckle.
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Describing Color:
Fluorescent
Cornucopia
Kaleidoscope
Jewel"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rogers0 -
Basal state
Burnt
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"Watery Mirrors"
"Temperamental Surfaces"
"Ballistic Fields"
"Military Grade"
Okay. . . a couple of these I might of just made up...
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What a great thread idea - love it.
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A few of my favorites:
"dripping with luster"
"crusty"
"frosty"
"circ cam"And a few that I could do without hearing for a bit but know it's 100% coin-related:
"absolute monster"
"needs a sticker"
"lightly cleaned"1 -
A coin for the "connie sewer" collector.
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Since I'm not a fan of "toning," I like "blast white" when it's correctly applied.
"Cool" comes to mind for coins with actual historic significance (not necessarily rare; e.g., Athens owls, not rare at all but amazingly cool).
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Things I like to see:
"delicate"
"patina" (as opposed to toning)
"sharp"/"crisp"IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me0 -
Finest Known
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Needle-sharp
Uncompromised
Natural
UnblemishedOne of the funniest descriptions that I ever read YEARS ago was:
"The Lone Ranger's silver bullet could not have been shinier!"
Don't remember what company used it but it always makes me laugh!! LOL
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
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