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Are these coins naturally toned or Artificially toned?

JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
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I bought these 3-nickles and the quarter online this past week. I just quickly checked the 1st 2-nickels and the quarter waiting for the 3rd nickel to arrive
The last coin arrived today and I finally had time to to take a closer look at all 4 coins. My question is do you think these coins are natural toned or artificially toned? All 4 coins have bluish toned rims. There are small spots that are shiny and not toned too. These 4 coins are also proofs. I message the seller and he said he did no use chemicals on the coins. He said he used Tap water and heat. To me he just verified that these are Artificially Toned. I took from his 2nd message that he was not happy being asked these questions either. Any thought on this purchase will be helpful. Thanks in advance.













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Best Answers

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @JWP So do think they were wet and baked in an oven or boiled in a pot of water? I see a few small bubble spots but not many.

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  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    With the market being driven by tone collectors, there are many who will enhance their coins to get a tone so that they can sell at a higher premium.
    IMO, your coins have been artificially toned.
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • ifthevamzarockinifthevamzarockin Posts: 8,866 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Looks like AT to me.

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I believe what he dead wad put water on them and used a hand held heat gun. I'm going to do an experiment later today and see what water and a heat gun will do to coins.

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @ifthevamzarockin I agree, looks AT to me too.

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @WAYNEAS I believe you are right. Eye candy for a coin collector is desired. I think I fell for the eye candy too.

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 6, 2024 12:46PM Answer ✓

    I just finished the WEIRD SCIENCE TONING PROJECT.
    BEFORE HEAT

    AFTER HEAT

    My coins are just in the beginning Toning stage and with a lot more heat (maybe in an oven) I could duplicate this method. However, I don't see why I would want to heat treat a coin to scam people. Now the hard part begins dealing with the seller to get my money refunded. I'm only out $26.20 for the 4 coins, so if don't get a refund it is anot a big loss.

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  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Let us know how you make out @JWP.
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2024 4:26AM Answer ✓

    I just filed a claim as the seller doesn't want to do a refund because I took the coins out his stapled bags to get better pictures. Oh well, sometimes online (Ebay) sellers can be difficult to deal with, but I will be OK either way, not a lot of $$ in the transaction.

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  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @JWP said:
    I just filed a claim as the seller doesn't want to do a refund because I took the coins out his stapled bags to get better pictures. Oh well, sometimes online (Ebay) sellers can be difficult to deal with, but I will be OK either way, not a lot of $$ in the transaction.

    Best of luck.
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Thanks, I have an offer to settle this situation - just have to thinks it over.

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  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,584 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I baked a cookie sheet full of Sacagawea dollars once just to see what would happen.

    The side that was face down turned a darker gold, and the side that was face up turned all kinds of blue and purple.

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I used a heat gun, and the 2 coins started to tone. Stopped because I did not know much longer it would take for a more toned coin. I had thought about using an oven, but I figured this weird science project was cooked by now.

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @JBK How do you think a TPG with grade these 3 nickels and the Quarter? Would be detail - AT or a PR grade?

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  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @JWP said:
    I used a heat gun, and the 2 coins started to tone. Stopped because I did not know much longer it would take for a more toned coin. I had thought about using an oven, but I figured this weird science project was cooked by now.

    Let me see if I got this right.
    1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
    2) place desired raw coins into a cookie pan
    3) bake for 15 minutes or until a desired color is achieved.
    4) flip and repeat
    5) return coins into circulation so they can be found in the wild. >:)
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,584 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @JWP said:
    @JBK How do you think a TPG with grade these 3 nickels and the Quarter? Would be detail - AT or a PR grade?

    Unfortunately I'm not an expert on judging AT. The quarter especially to me looks dodgy, though.

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Yes I lean towards all 4 being a DETAIL coin. What a waste of nice proof coin.

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 9, 2024 10:30AM Answer ✓

    @Waynease. I love your recipe for tonight g a coin. Needs to go to the Humor site. 😅🤣😂

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  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,137 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @WAYNEAS said:

    @JWP said:
    I used a heat gun, and the 2 coins started to tone. Stopped because I did not know much longer it would take for a more toned coin. I had thought about using an oven, but I figured this weird science project was cooked by now.

    Let me see if I got this right.
    1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
    2) place desired raw coins into a cookie pan
    3) bake for 15 minutes or until a desired color is achieved.
    4) flip and repeat
    5) return coins into circulation so they can be found in the wild. >:)
    Wayne

    Might as well add bake some cookie mix as well and get some chocolate chip cookies done. Why waste the heat. :D

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  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    The seller said he used heat and tap water. He did not specify the method of heat, The coins look nice but still think they would be a Details coin if sent to a TPG. The coin toning recipe is kinda funny but may the way they toned. Only col sanders will know.

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  • WAYNEASWAYNEAS Posts: 6,716 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    @BLUEJAYWAY said:

    @WAYNEAS said:

    @JWP said:
    I used a heat gun, and the 2 coins started to tone. Stopped because I did not know much longer it would take for a more toned coin. I had thought about using an oven, but I figured this weird science project was cooked by now.

    Let me see if I got this right.
    1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
    2) place desired raw coins into a cookie pan
    3) bake for 15 minutes or until a desired color is achieved.
    4) flip and repeat
    5) return coins into circulation so they can be found in the wild. >:)
    Wayne

    Might as well add bake some cookie mix as well and get some chocolate chip cookies done. Why waste the heat. :D

    If I added the chocolate cookie
    mix, would I get a nice chocolate toning? 😋
    Wayne

    Kennedys are my quest...

  • JWPJWP Posts: 22,271 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I needed a sense of humor after this purchase.

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