CALLING Toned Coin Experts: Please educate me about toning

RB1026 · March 19, 2011 11:16AM

After 30+ years of having NO interest in toned coins I suddenly find myself being drawn toward the "light"...ha ha. Maybe it's that my hair is "toning" gray so I appreciate them more!

I have an elementary knowledge of toning but what distinguishes a NT (naturally toned) coin from an AT (artificially toned) piece? How do you tell? Are there certain colors that are restricted to certain metals? What causes the different colors? I know it's a chemical reaction but what is the trigger?

Does PCGS typically grade toned coins or are those I see in PCGS holders coins that have turned after the fact?

I am guessing I am not alone around here as the only one with questions. If you have experience with toners, please come forward and discuss. Thanks in advance.

Roger

CCC2010 · March 19, 2011 11:47AM

Here you go...

Link

TomB · March 19, 2011 11:58AM

You can get arguements all day long about what constitutes NT vs. AT. Some of the finer points of the parameters of NT vs. AT will have to be determined individually. I have historically had a page or two on my site about toning and added one of those pages back to my site tonight in response to your question. The easiest part of your post to answer is that PCGS encapsulates scores of toned coins everyday and they are toned when they enter the PCGS building and are toned the same way many years later.

Analyst · March 19, 2011 2:23PM

Please consider my three part series on naturally toned coins. This writer welcomes comments, both positive and negative:

The Basis for Collecting Naturally Toned Coins, Part 1

Naturally Toned Coins, Part 2

Naturally Toned Coins, Part 3

llafoe · March 19, 2011 2:27PM

<< <i>Please consider my three part series on naturally toned coins. This writer welcomes comments, both positive and negative:

The Basis for Collecting Naturally Toned Coins, Part 1

Naturally Toned Coins, Part 2

Naturally Toned Coins, Part 3 >>

As Hugh Hefner once said... Great read, but we need more photos!

bestclser1 · March 19, 2011 3:59PM

bestclser1 · March 19, 2011 4:01PM

CCC2010 · March 19, 2011 10:04PM

Beautiful Morgans Bestclser1

BBN · March 19, 2011 10:12PM

With toning in rainbow colors, I could take it or leave it. I really liked my seated quarter's toning as in my avatar. The toning I love the most is sort of the antiquing type toning the on the flowing hair coin in this advertisement on Analyst's link. This type of toning on a seated, barber or standing quarter in XF condition is my favorite.

keets · March 19, 2011 10:16PM

Please educate me about toning, How do you tell?

get out in the trenches and do battle, there are really no shortcuts. i think even the most stubbornly proud experts will agree that they can't even be sure all the time.

ricko · March 19, 2011 11:35PM

Keets is correct... one can not ALWAYS determine NT vs. AT. Done properly, AT will not differ from NT. The easily determined variants are those done in a hurry (i.e. heat etc) or with chemicals beyond the realm of normal tarnish. Coins can be tarnished in the slab since they are not airtight. That being said, it would likely be AT, since the slabs are protective to a greater degree than other storage methods. Sunnywoods analysis and TomB's information will help you, the rest comes from 'hands on' experience. Cheers, RickO

BAJJERFAN · March 20, 2011 12:40AM

shasta7 · March 20, 2011 1:08AM

Question on toned coins...

Is there any way to take dirt off a coin without hurting the toning such as acetone, soap soaking, ms-70, etc
(I understand that if the dirt is taken off there would be a clean spot where the dirt was...)
The coin is just starting to tone & is a common date... ty

jmski52 · March 20, 2011 1:32AM

Killer pastels, Bajjerfan!

You know, I've never been a Wisconsonite, but I have them Badgers picked all the way to the finals (and then losing to Duke).

HighRelief · March 20, 2011 2:13AM

Whit · March 20, 2011 2:51AM

Good afternoon, all: I don't pay much attention to slab inserts, but I am still surprised to see HighRelief's PCGS slab with the designation "Original Toning". When did PCGS mark their inserts with comments on toning? Also, what does G229 mean?

Thanks...

Whit

RB1026 · March 20, 2011 4:58AM

As always, great info everyone. Thanks for the posts!

Roger

BAJJERFAN · March 20, 2011 5:11AM

<< <i>Good afternoon, all: I don't pay much attention to slab inserts, but I am still surprised to see HighRelief's PCGS slab with the designation "Original Toning". When did PCGS mark their inserts with comments on toning? Also, what does G229 mean?

Thanks...

Whit >>

I wonder if that refers to a bag number.

roadrunner · March 20, 2011 5:19AM

I don't recommend that novices start their journey by looking at wildly bag-toned Morgans. They could probably learn much more by looking at the more mundane toning
that typically appears on the other 99% of US coinage. Most other naturally toned US coins don't look anything like those Morgans.

roadrunner

Analyst · March 30, 2011 6:26AM

Roadrunner<<I don't recommend that novices start their journey by looking at wildly bag-toned Morgans. They could probably learn much more by looking at the more [traditional] toning that typically appears on the other 99% of US coinage. Most other naturally toned US coins don't look anything like those Morgans.>>

On this point, I very much agree with Roadrunner. Further, I believe that most collectors will, initially or eventually, come to appreciate the russet, gray, blue, apricot and green shades that naturally form on silver coins. Natural toning, from albums, cabinets or envelopes, is often wonderful. Toning patterns from such bags are unusual special cases.

Coincidentally, I recently wrote about the premiums for ‘bag toned’ Morgans:

Super Premiums for Common Silver Dollars with Attractive Toning

jsf · March 30, 2011 6:38AM

testing...

Sonorandesertrat · March 30, 2011 6:56AM

Lots of good advice from previous posts. I collect toned coins (including Morgans). The toned-coins sector of the coin market essentially did not exist 40 years ago (dipped white was the rage), and a fair chunk of the toned coins that I see today are coins that I wonder about. Want to see artificially toned coins? Check out ebay.
It's not wise to pony up for ANY coin unless you fully understand what you are buying---this includes liquidity, market price, technical grade, marks, and toning. One other point: in my opinion, it's not a good idea to pay a premium for toning unless the coin makes heads turn. Learn what highly positive eye appeal means where toning is concerned (check out the PCGS eye appeal set---it's online), and stay away from mundane-looking coins.

CALLING Toned Coin Experts: Please educate me about toning

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