Currently, toned coins seem to be preferred by serious collectors. I'm curious whether this has always been the case, or if there have been cycles where toned coins go in and out of style. Thanks
Pristine, original surfaces never go out of style and have always been preferred by serious collectors. Many times these have toning. Many new collectors mistake the premiums as being just for color, and not for the surfaces. Having said that, yes color can go in and out of style. The late 70's preferred predominantly white coins. The problem with toning is that it can hide surface problems.
I don't how others feel about it but i've never been a fan. I'm a conservative type lol. I like my coins to be all original, as they came from the mint.
But, toning is a natural process...so the only way for a 100 year old silver coin to be blast white is if someone altered the surface of the coin by dipping. I understand what you are saying...but is an old blast white coin really original?
Lol, I understand what you are saying too. Dirt it etc is one thing. I just don't like the rainbow colors that a lot look for. It's not what the mint intended, that's what I mean. I like them to look mintish lol.
Its hard to say if its a style thing, technically all silver coins will tone eventually. Its a natural process when silver oxidizes, some may take longer than others and some are better protected than others. And as far as tastes go it all depends on the eye of the beholder. Some love that rainbow toning and some like odd patterns.
:devil:This question almost like asking a man what type of woman you like blonds or redhead? I guess its just taste I like both toned Gem MS-65+ white coins .
Define toned for me ? Is this coin toned ? Is this coin toned ? Is this coin toned ? Is this coin toned ? Is this coin toned ? You see, all of those coins are toned. But which one of those are you asking about ? I'm not sure, but I'm going to guess that when you asked the question you were thinking about the colorfully toned Morgan and coins similar to it. And yes, there has always been a number of collectors who liked colorfully toned coins. From what I watched happen the number of those collectors started increasing dramatically around 2002. I think the number has leveled off and maybe even fallen a bit in the past couple of years, prices for colorfully toned coins certainly have. But then prices for all coins have fallen in the past couple of years. So the two things may be related or they may not. But other than that I have noticed no significant changes in how many collectors liked colorfully toned coins in my lifetime.
I dislike rainbow toned coins, if it happens then it happens but I don't seek them out to buy, especially at any premium because it's got a rainbow tint and color on them.
it took me a while, but i eventually became a tone fan. once youve seen a lot of coins, the uniqueness of the toning starts to make particular specimens stand out. it can really open up the coin world to a collector once you start appreciating natural toning
GD, I'll let others define tone in their own view so as not to influence their opinion. Yes, I should have been more clear that I am mainly talking about silver (or gold) coins. It seems to me that many like the rainbow toning, especially if it's concentric. Toned vs. untoned kind of reminds me of the collector car restored vs. survivor dilemma. Currently, it seems to be shifting toward "survivor".
pretty pictures Here is a toned proof Franklin half dollar. The cent, nickel, dime & quarter in the proof set have similar toning pattern. It's kind of neat.
The only problem I see is that some coins CAN survive white, (not blast white, but still mainly untoned). Any collector not appreciating that coin as much or more as a toned coin is out of his mind. I am talking about pristine original surfaces, never been dipped, but still without color. This really is the best a coin can be condition wise, as it has been cared for the best. I am a huge lover of pretty toned coins, but I collected them when white coins were mainly preferred. As such, I got nice original coins for a discount. I did, however, understand why original white coins could be preferred, but simply chose to buy mainly toned. If I could get an original white coin for the same money, though, I would buy it because I appreciated how well the coin was cared for. The problem of course is knowing whether a coin has been dipped to get "white" or whether it is original. This is, to me, where toned coins are easier to tell if original. Still, give me a choice of original surfaces between the 1886 Doug posted, and the 1902 he posted, I would probably choose the 1902. You NEVER know what is under the tone, that is the extreme danger, especially when it gets dark like the 1886. I am sure some of my toned coins I bought 30 years ago, if I dipped them, I would not like what is underneath. If you buy a toned coin today that is dark, that is the danger in 30 years in my eyes. In my opinion, one day the original coins like the 1902 Doug posted, (or even "whiter") will start getting the appreciation they deserve, as being original coins without the danger of damaged surfaces under the toning.
