This is a beautiful work of Natural Art. That psychedelic coin is ...not right. If you want rainbows, you can get them cheap than painted on a Morgan. Ruben
Aesthetically he problem really is that in the hand the wild toning detracts from the coins and makes it harder to see the details. If you painted Mickey Mouse over it, used have the same affect....great Mickey Mouse but what happened to the COIN! Ruben
The responses to this statement and question have been quite interesting to read. We must all remember or should know that toning has or should have no effect on the grade of a coin, as long as the toning has not damaged the metal surface. Therefore paying premiums for toned coins, NT or AT for that matter, is strickly the buyers decision to do so. I personally love toning to death, but I would not pay 20% much less double for a toned coin if I could get the same grade blast white. I could easily subject the blast white coin to an environment that would promote and excellerate the "natural" toning process. I most definetly have been seeing a surge in demand for toned coins along with the sellers expecting a premium for that toning. It will be interesting to see where this interest goes many years down the road. Keep on Collecting!!! Allen
Ruben, I don't understand (probably from ignorance) why blast white coins are abnormal?? I thought the blast white was the mint finish?
Silver doesn't stay blast white over 130 years. Its just not normal. Its especially not normal for Walking Liberty Halves that are notorious for being blast white. Ruben
makes sense to me, but I don't see how that would decrease its value--if anything, I would think that the coin's ability to retain it's original luster would increase its value, but maybe that's just me...
But they don't retain their original tone, but they do retain luster. Luster is the way the coin reflects light. Unless the coin tarnishes black, that remains. But they have to oxidize in an oxygen atmosphere, which fortunately we live in. They should have a charming stately tone as they age. Here is another example for a coin over 100 years old.
oooh, that's what both of my columbian halves look like...except one has more oxidation, but still good detail. I guess whether or not you think the blast white or rainbow-toned coins are more valuable or not, you should really just buy what you like. Value is subjective, after all = )
It might be subjective but Rainbow toning is from contamination from the bags or other source and the blast white is dipping. Ruben
yeah - that photo looks better than the coin I'm going to enter that picture into the Exhibition contest ! Ruben
But the mechanism for that toning is the same as the rainbow toning...it's all the same. The only difference is the rainbow coins were stored such that the toning process was allowed to occur at a faster rate. There is no difference in the toning...those "natural" toned coins will begin to turn colors over time. It just depends on how they are stored as to how fast it occurs.
my favorite My personal favorite toning on a silver coin is achieved after a coin has been stored in a quality album for many 10s of years. I like it when the edges of the coin start to become golden color radiating just into the outer devices and the centers become stately toned but remain relatively light-silver colored.
Rich - with all do respect it is not all the same. Fish need oxygen but if I yank them out of the water the die... Not ALL the same... There is no amount of time that will make a coin tone blue red and purple. That requires contamination and possibly more. Have you ever seen a Roman Silver coin in with Red Blue and Green tone? Ruben