Artificial or Natural Toned

I attached two photos of a toned Walking Liberty. The colors are pretty vibrant but I’ve seen similar coin the were certified as natural.

If you think it is natural toning please say why you think it is natural.

And if you think it is artificial please state why you think is is artificial.

Depending on what people say I may send it in to be certified.

Thanks.

 

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Not market acceptable toning IMO.

 

Thanks. But why do you think that?

 

I agree with @BadThad

It looks too splotchy and uneven, and the colors aren't typical (IMO) for a NT coin. I also think the black spot at IGWT is suspect.

 

the colors look off, the progression of the colors and pattern do not look natural to me. I vote AT. How's the luster on the coin?

 

Because silver doesn't normally tone like that. Any experienced collector would reject that coin in about 2 seconds for the reasons Beefer said.

Silver follows a specific color progression when it tones (there are threads in this forum about it). The posted coin has very incorrect progressions and is not market acceptable.

 

Agreed with AT.

Deep reds and blues are usually signs of a heat application.

Worn down to VF and toned up is another give away.

This is a coin that has no loss in value in attempt to AT it because it’s only worth melt.

I would bet that it’s a cleaned coin and AT to mask the cleaning and attempt to garner some sort of premium over melt.

 

Shake n bake

 

Worn down is a HUGE giveaway. Great point.

If this were a BU coin, I would say maybe its not market acceptable, but it would be possible for it to be natural. I have seen some really weird toning coming out of old albums that were stored in very humid environments. However, those coins were fully BU, one sided toning (because in albums), etc.

The first thing I look for when looking at a toned coins is condition. Worn coins simply cannot tone colorfully usually unless "helped". Only pristine surface coins will tone in ways collectors find attractive. Circulated coins, by having their surfaces contaminated with oils, etc will never tone that way naturally.

 

Thanks for all the comments. I suspected from the start that it had been helped.
And thanks to all who gave their reasons. It seems pretty unanimous that it was AT. If it had been 50/50 I would have been tempted to send it in, but it looks like I save my money.
While I have never dipped a coin, might this be a good candidate for dipping to remove the toning? Or would that make a big thing even worse?

 

I'd think so, yes.

 

Lol, I just read his first sentence--I meant yes to that, dip it! Ah, geeze, how embarrassing...

 

Totally agree with the opinions about AT, especially @medoraman's explanations and the encouragement to dip it to put it out of its misery. Some coins belong in holders. This one belongs in the burn unit.

Steve

 

Thanks again for all the comments. As I stated before I’ve never dipped before and this may be my first. I’ll have to read up on dipping before I do anything.
Anyone got any basic do’s and dont’s for me on dipping they like to pass on to me?

 

If you don't get any replies in this thread, just start another one. Feature the coin, and ask for tips on how to dip it. I think you're approaching this in the right way.

 

Thanks.

 

There’s a post in this thread that contains the color progression chart that @BadThad was aluding to.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/beware-of-rainbow-toning.261563/page-7

 

NSP - Thanks - That’s a great link on toning.
In the mail yesterday arrived a nice surprise. I won a nicely toned 2011 Silve Eagle from a coin show I attended in Sacramento a few weeks ago. No radical toning, just a nice even golden halo around the edge.