Chris, I guess my point is, if it was cleaned and re-toned, I would think PCGS would have stated, "AT Cleaned", "Questionable Color" is kind of a cop out from supposed experts.
Well that's the thing, there is no such thing as an "expert" when it comes to toning. The absolute best that anyone can ever do is guess as to whether the toning is AT or NT.
Great point GD! This has all been very educational for me, like I said in my original post, I'm very ignorant when it comes to AT and natural. I'm still very ignorant, hee hee, but I'll save that for another post Thanks again everyone for your comments!
Please don't waste any more money on that one. Plenty will buy it raw as NT. As I posted earlier: "IMHO the OP's coin is not natural. The different colors on the obverse and reverse is one + for natural. The tiny blue specks are a minus. Only he knows if it was stored someplace for a long time; nevertheless, I don't think it will straight grade." If you are a member of the ANA, borrow Bob Cambell's video about toning from the ANA library. I watch that tape at least once a year.
So if it's so hard to tell the difference between NT, and at... why is it so important??? After all, isn't it the colors that are important, not how it got there? Does the coin deteriorate faster, or the colors change differently??? Why the big deal if you can't really tell the difference??? That seems a bit unethical to me.
I don't even know how many years ago it was when I first posted something like this. If you can't tell the difference, then does it matter ? But you'd have to go back quite a ways to find it. As for this question - "Does the coin deteriorate faster, or the colors change differently???" No. When artificial toning is done correctly there is absolutely no difference between it and natural toning, it is exactly the same. No person anywhere can tell with any degree of certainty which is which. And neither can any technology. As I said before, the only difference between AT and NT is intent. Which is why, all those years ago I said - if you can't tell the difference, then does it matter ? And more than a few people were not exactly pleased with that comment. And even fewer agreed with it.
All, thanks so much for all the different perspectives on this coin! For now, my plans are to keep it in the PCGS slab. Just so you know, I have been afflicted with this disease called VAMMING.....( I can hear the groans now) Anywho, this Morgan is going to take a trip to Leroy Van Allen for possible new discovery verification. Near Date/tilted S blah, blah....if it's a new VAM, I'll leave as is (PCGS Slab) and send to VSS for their cool sticker Again, thanks for all the comments, you guys ROCK! (some no so much, hee hee hee, just joking!)
heavycam.monstervam, posted: "How come youre a big hot shot over here on CT, but over on PCGS youre as harmless as a heal hound ?" With the help of two moderators (Doug here and Mark over there) I have been tamed down quite a bit. Additionally, the posters over there are generally quite different. I will not say how and leave that to others. Would you rather be a "big fish" in a pond, or a "little fish" in the ocean? Johndoe2000$, posted: "So if it's so hard to tell the difference between NT, and at... why is it so important???" I believe it has to do with the value of originality vs man-made alterations. "After all, isn't it the colors that are important, YES not how it got there NO?" "Does the coin deteriorate faster, or the colors change differently??? Why the big deal if you can't really tell the difference???" On some coins it is easy to tell, others not so. Should we ignore the easily ID'ed alterations? "That seems a bit unethical to me." You are entitled to feel that way. When I have a coin, I have an opinion of it. When I try to sell the coin, the person buying it has a decision to make based on their knowledge. This is the "real world" NOT Utopia. We cannot protect everyone from their ignorance. That's the job of the TPGS's. BTW, if I sell a "bad" coin knowingly - shame on me. If someone buys it knowingly - shame on them. I don't know for 100% if the OP's coin is AT. I don't know what a TPGS will grade it. I do know I SHOULD BUY IT if it is priced "right." I love it!!
Believe it or not, some folks are honest, and have good ethics. If there is no "discernable" AT, there should be no discernable issue, right? And... do you know that this site has quote, and reply features?
Johndoe2000$, posted: "And... do you know that this site has quote, and reply features?" YES I DO! Thanks for your interest. However, I've made a personal decision (in addition to using color and faces ) to post the way I do rather than let members see a light orange box with "Click to expand" in order to make it easier for them to see what I reply to. Thankfully this site also has an "Ignore" feature.
Doesn't it all boil down to what the collector wants? If a collector has the opportunity to acquire a toned coin, any coin he or she finds desirable, what does it matter if it's AT or NT? I personally think it's unethical to "doctor" coins, but I also appreciate attractively toned coins, and I understand that "toning" really is just an environmental effect on metal whether done artificially or happening "naturally" because of the environment in which the coin was placed. We all take a chance on any coin we buy: it might be cleaned or tooled, it might be an artificially aged ancient coin, it might be negatively affected by something that professional grader missed. There are a lot of traps for us collectors and toning just happens to be one.
Insider posted:... Now, you don't want to ignore me, I put out lots and lots of good stuff. You don't want to miss out on that. And, as for ignoring you? I heard that you had posted something relevant once. I myself want to be able to see it, should it ever happen again.
Johndoe2000$, posted: "Now, you don't want to ignore me, I put out lots and lots of good stuff. You don't want to miss out on that. And, as for ignoring you? I heard that you had posted something relevant once. I myself want to be able to see it, should it ever happen again. You sure do and I enjoy your informative posts! As for me, I DON'T IGNORE anyone. I guess I was not clear on that. It is an "option" that others have (including you), and one that several here have used to block me. I consider it a badge of honor! Yeah, every once and a while even this squirrel (Insider so no one is confused) finds a nut. eddiespin, posted: "Unbelievable."