Natural or dipped or... ?

I'm trying to understand this coin... I'm curious if this strikes you folks as more likely:

A) Something that can happen naturally

B) A coin that was entirely toned dark and then dipped, with the portrait outline, motto, date etc. having hung on.

C) Something else.

The longer I do this, the more suspicious I am of looks I've never seen before being the result of alteration, but it was cheap and figured I'd learn something by sharing.

Thanks.

 

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B for sure, and why people believe they can restore a coin from this state is beyond me. What even a larger question is how do coins as such get graded bt a TPG ? They been cleaned or altered.

 

I would go with (C) and just say Cleaned

 

I feel the coin probably had a couple of really quick dips to remove some of the dark toning. Any more would have killed the coin. It looks to have a bit of luster in the fields. I don't understand the yellow to parts of the coin. Maybe just the lighting used to image it. I like the coin.

 

Totally disagree with most folks here. I've seen Washington's naturally tone this way over time in an album. @lordmarcovan is right about that. IMO, there was absolutely NOTHING done to alter it. 100% original.

 

I've seen this type of toning on silver quarters enough to say that there is a potential it just toned this way. It could've been dipped, it could've not been dipped. It could've been in a case that caused funny toning. I don't think we could ever actually know without speaking to the previous owners of this one. Just my two cents.

 

Most likely natural toning. I've seen many Washington quarters with toning like this from an album.

 

The yellow may be chemical corrosion?

 

My first thought was natural toning...though I reckon there's generally room for debate on toning.

 

Yup, natural toning.

 

I was going to go A natural even before reading the comments. Not sure why but I have seen several old washingtons like this. Maybe is sat in an old cardboard square flip or album with lots of humidity.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

Yellow is the first color in the toning color progression.

 

I live in Florida and agree with you!!!!! Also, I have some really great old Morgans from New Orleans that have great toning due to climate/atmosphere/storage issues.

 

Interesting replies and all appreciated.

The yellow toning is on the coin; there's definitely luster left and it cartwheels on both sides. I'm thinking the coin is AU by the look of the cheek and eagles legs.

As my tastes have turned towards all-original coins I'm learning it is a beast all its own- thick original patina vs. environmental damage, crust vs. terminal toning, etc. If anyone can recommend any literature on this subject I'd love to check it out.

 

I grade it MS65, fwiw...