So...I purchased (12) Liberty Waiking half dollars. This particular one caught my attention. I have another to compare. My question: is this true toning? It has a glossy look. The colors are greenish and blue. What do you guys think? I have zero knowledge.
If you intended to post a pic of the coin so we may judge the toning for you - you forgot the picture. edit - ahhhhhh there it is. Yes, the toning looks OK. But the coin has been polished.
The only type of cleaning that doesnt seem to remove value is a quick dip of an UNC coin. Any other type of polishing removes value. years ago, polishing coins was a common occurance (esp in the 1800s and early 1900s). today people polish a coin out of lack of knowledge.
They do it for the very same reason that they clean them - it's because they think it makes the coin look better. And no it does not preserve the coin in any way, quite the opposite - it damages the coin. And yes it lowers the value greatly, sometimes by as much as 80%.
