Hum??? A little AT going on here?? http://cgi.ebay.com/1920-S-Liberty-...ryZ41100QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/1934-S-Liberty-...ryZ41100QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem They must have come from the same roll--ya thats it!!!
Absolutely! Here is an example of the aftermath after a prominant poster on the PCGS board was caught buying a coin from a Heritage auction then AT'ing it in its holder and then selling it on eBay one month later. This is just his apology thread, I think the initial expose thread eventually was removed: http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=535409&highlight_key=y Fortunately they weren't particularly dangerous coins as the toning look a little off.
Wouldn't a quick dip restore any AT silver coin back to blast white? Not that I like dipped coins either, but give it a few decades and you might get a nice patina back.
Once a coin is AT'd, it's downhill from there. Dipping will only decrease luster and tend to dull it. I guess it would depend on variables, every situation is different. AT and dipping = downhill. IMO
I buy most of my coins from Heritage Acution. I have seen at least 5 coins at auction graded by ANACS with a grade but with the caveat on the lable that the coin is "Artificially Toned". You can register for free at Heritage and then search their archives. Use "Artificially Toned" as the search criteria and you'll see for yourself.
Dandruff shampoo is a tool of the trade. It will make it look like that AE if you let it soak for 1-3 days. DONT DO IT!
I just dislike the bright rainbow colors anyway...I certainly wouldnt pay a premium, nor would I even think of buying one of those god awful bright tie dye looking coins. I have several toned coins but they toned over a long period and the color can barely be seen unless you hold the coin at an angle. I think the problem started in earnest when people started paying more for one of these monstrosities. I also agree that in many cases, nobody will be able to confirm or deny fake tone if it is done right...
Good Advice! I also buy most of my coins on Heritage and this is a very nice tool. Here is an AT Peace Dollar that I purchased (very cheaply) in an ICG holder marked AT. IMO, the only real way to determine the difference between AT & NT is to view thousands of coins from that particular series. And even then, as Doug points out, you can't always be sure. Searching the Heritage auction archives for toned coins is an inexpensive way to obtain this education even if it is only from photos.
While that statement might be technically accurate, there is not a coin doctor in the world with the skill and courage needed to accomplish that feat. Put simply, coin doctors are not going to attempt to tone MS67 and MS68 Morgan Dollars. The risk of ruining the coin's value is much greater than the chance that you would end up with this. In my experience, most coin doctors apply their trade to common inexpensive coins in an attempt to greatly increase the value of the coin either by hiding defects or generating exceptional eye appealing toning.
I would agree, generally, with the above. However, if there's money to be made, the docs will try it. To wit, I've seen $50 coins and $50k coins ATed before.
I don't dispute that but the intention is almost always quite different. A $50 common date MS64 Morgan can be AT'ed without risk of loss. If the coin is doctored correctly, the value might jump 10X, but if it will never drop more than $20-$30. In these cases, the intent of the doctor is to create toning that will drive a huge premium. In the $50K coin case, the intention is almost always one of two scenarios. The first involves hiding a defect which would then increase the grade of the coin driving a huge price increase. The second would be to make an ugly rare coin more eye appealing. This could cause the coin to get a grade bump from market grading. Look at the case of that Gobrecht Dollar you posted earlier in the thread. Several members commented on how the coin is ruined because of the AT. Personally, I think the original coin was severly lacking in eye appeal and that the AT helped that coin tremendously. I don't think that coins value was diminished at all by the AT.