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Toned American Silver Eagles

john_nyc1john_nyc1 Posts: 259 ✭✭✭
edited September 7, 2026 4:59PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I am casual collector - mostly Morgans and Peace Dollars and 20th century U.S type set - who recently started looking at toned ASE's simply because I find them so beautiful (my fav design is the WLH). I took my first foray into acquiring a toned ASE at GC on Sunday night. I was schocked: the attractively (yes subjective) toned ASE's sold for $250-$350! This is then numismatics not buillion, right? What are folks thoughts on this niche of toned ASEs?

Casual collector: Morgans & Peace Dollars & 20th Century Type Set. Successful BST transactions with ProofCollection, Morgan13, CoinFinder, CoinHunter4, Bretsan.

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    steve_richardsonsteve_richardson Posts: 315 ✭✭✭✭

    I also really like the WLH design, and I think it’s well reproduced on the ASE. I like toning as well, but am not terribly motivated to spend much more than spot for ASEs. I also can’t consistent tell natural from artificial toning. So I’m concerned about spending good money on an AT coin.

    I don’t know that I’d call this numismatics instead of bullion, though. To me numismatics is more about the history and study of coins… toned ASEs are more about just collecting silver that you like. Which I have plenty of, so no judgement here!

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,238 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Call it what you like, but it is what it is.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 8, 2026 10:36AM

    Impressive toners.

    Investor
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    AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 25,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have a set from '86 to '13 and they are all raw toned. Should post a pic or two someday but the camera just passed away. Nothing spectacular but all personally chosen for grade and appearance. All would be 69's with a few maybe making 70 on a good day. This I cannot confirm anymore as only one eye and it doesn't see well. So, must rely on the lens to see anything anymore.
    I'm shopping for a Nikon A900, Sony RX100 or such, Canon G7x. If you have one laying around shoot me a DM.!!
    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
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    RelaxnRelaxn Posts: 1,272 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tone your own....
    Wrap them in old 1920's to 1950's advertisement paper, receipts, or envelopes.. put them in books and forget about them for 5 years...

    Or get the old felt line coin cases and put your ASE's in there and let them sit a few years.

    Dont pay for other people's work when you xan make your own.

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    MEJ7070MEJ7070 Posts: 982 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Is had a nice one in my 7070 set, and when I decided to to break it up it was the first coin I offered for sale and it lasted about 30 minutes. I had it priced pretty strong, too (or so I thought).

    I found it very interesting when CACG came out and said they were considering all vibrant ASE toning to be AT and wondered if that would end up being a wet blanket thrown over the market for this type of material.

    I personally would’ve been a lot more bored with just throwing a blast white MS 70 into my type set, but recognize that’s only my particular taste/preference.

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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 34,423 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Goldbully said:

    Totally

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    Had this one for a while

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    MeltdownMeltdown Posts: 9,297 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nice Rob! I see a lot of PCI eagles in there.
    .

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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,220 ✭✭✭✭✭

    i wouldn't even call it numismatics. it is chromatics

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    robecrobec Posts: 7,056 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Meltdown said:
    Very nice Rob! I see a lot of PCI eagles in there.

    I think even the PCGS were former PCI eagles.

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    HarlequinHarlequin Posts: 275 ✭✭✭

    Not just eagles but most nice toners can carry heavy premiums. I sold a collection of beautifully toned Roosevelts on the BST here a while back that realized some very strong prices. With regard to the eagles I have also seen huge premiums as well for toners. As is, the nicer the toning, the higher the premium so if you have an "eye" for really nice toners they can indeed be worthwhile to collect IMO 😎

    🇺🇸 Harlequin
    harlequinnumismatic@gmail.com
    Home of the Americana Collection of USA silver coins

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    blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 7,748 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Dip em all I say, make em right again. RGDS!

    The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
    BOOMIN!™
    Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
    Retiring at 55, what day is today? :sunglasses:

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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 9, 2026 4:43PM

    I wonder how they were stored. The tarnish patterns seem to be similar. Over the decades heat and humidity take their toll.

    Investor
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    lermishlermish Posts: 5,080 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Cougar1978 said:
    I wonder how they were stored. The tarnish patterns seem to be similar. Over the decades heat and humidity take their toll.

    Yes they all need a dip.

    Not according to my favorite coin dealing expert who posted his opinion this morning:

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,220 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Impressive toners.

    given that
    1) text can be edited
    2) images are static
    3) people have been jaild over misquoting and fake image quotes

    i wouldn't do the below:

    @lermish said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    I wonder how they were stored. The tarnish patterns seem to be similar. Over the decades heat and humidity take their toll.

    Yes they all need a dip.

    Not according to my favorite coin dealing expert who posted his opinion this morning:

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    LiquidatedLiquidated Posts: 405 ✭✭✭✭

    The world has plenty of blast white silver eagles. Dipping would be a dumb idea.

    Good call on GC. Never looked at premiums being paid and sending two off for auction.

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    lermishlermish Posts: 5,080 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MsMorrisine said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    Impressive toners.

    given that
    1) text can be edited
    2) images are static
    3) people have been jaild over misquoting and fake image quotes

    i wouldn't do the below:

    @lermish said:

    @Cougar1978 said:
    I wonder how they were stored. The tarnish patterns seem to be similar. Over the decades heat and humidity take their toll.

    Yes they all need a dip.

    Not according to my favorite coin dealing expert who posted his opinion this morning:

    It's a direct and honest screenshot. If he edits it, it will change the timestamp and be obvious.

    And even though there's no crime, I can do the time.

    Meh.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Too offer two arguably different opinions on the same thread is magical.
    Tip of the cap to @Cougar1978 for making that happen.

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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,256 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 9, 2026 5:45PM

    One of these days I’ll pull out my 25th anniversary set that toned so much over the years I can hardly believe it and photograph them to share. Actually I have two sets that have toning but one of really took on some color.
    I love a beautiful toned SAE and I’ve seen some beautiful ones out there👍

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 12,181 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As I have no expertise with toned ASEs, would this command any premium?
    I held it back when I was dumping some of my silver during the run up last winter, as it looked kinda cool; I figured this is a good place to ask. It had been in an old cigar box for over 20 years along with some other junk silver I had stashed away.


    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 11,055 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @david3142 said:
    I collect toned coins, specializing in 20th century type and I consider this ASE part of my type set:

    That is quite attractive. Old PCI coin?

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    U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 7,009 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    As I have no expertise with toned ASEs, would this command any premium?
    I held it back when I was dumping some of my silver during the run up last winter, as it looked kinda cool; I figured this is a good place to ask. It had been in an old cigar box for over 20 years along with some other junk silver I had stashed away.


    It should sell for a premium to a generic silver Eagle. I would not send it in on its own to grade (could go QC) but if combined with a larger order, it could be worth a shot. Or offer it raw at a premium and see if anyone bites.

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    david3142david3142 Posts: 3,695 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @cameonut2011 said:

    @david3142 said:
    I collect toned coins, specializing in 20th century type and I consider this ASE part of my type set:

    That is quite attractive. Old PCI coin?

    Thank you. It was not a PCI coin. It has a brother that was submitted at the same time. I used to own both but sold the one below.

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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 11,055 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @david3142 said:

    @cameonut2011 said:

    @david3142 said:
    I collect toned coins, specializing in 20th century type and I consider this ASE part of my type set:

    That is quite attractive. Old PCI coin?

    Thank you. It was not a PCI coin. It has a brother that was submitted at the same time. I used to own both but sold the one below.

    I would have had a hard time choosing which one to keep for a toned type set.

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    WiscKauWiscKau Posts: 376 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All beautiful examples. I believe some are AT.

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    SmudgeSmudge Posts: 10,009 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All silver tarnishes, when it is attractive it’s called toning, when not it’s called tarnish.

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    coastaljerseyguycoastaljerseyguy Posts: 2,138 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 10, 2026 11:03AM

    Some beautiful toned ASEs above but cannot understand how 10-20 year old silver coins toned like that. Cannot convince me just time did its magic. Didn't these come in tubes originally so the buyers needed to place in some medium for them to tone like that. But the proliferation of these seems like most were enhanced, like adding heat or some chemical to quicken the process. At least Morgans, etc. had time and/or original storage bags to naturally tone. If you like the look, go for it, will never tell someone else what they should purchase or for how much. I had several 30 year old ASE's that had only the slightest rim toning and they were housed in a plastic case with a cardboard insert holding the coin.

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