Hey all, wondering if these are naturally toned or this is artificially done? They don't look cleaned and also the rims look okay-ish for their age. Unsure about environmental damage, esp. on the 1818. WDYAT? Good coins? Thanks a lot for every comment. Trying to learn ... Roddy
Natural toning should look like it is part of the coin. Those look more like something was spilled or painted onto the coin.
Thanks both! Agree, also feel it is AT. What a coincidence to get an answer from you, right now reading this amazing thread https://www.cointalk.com/threads/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-science-of-toning.84670/
Given they are .925 silver, and obviously been "put away," I think the toning is natural. If you have any silver, silverware, just take a look at it after it has sat for a long time.
I suspect they might be AT (dunno for sure), but regardless, those are some gorgeous George III crowns! Your Celtic horsie avatar coin is pretty sweet, too...
Nope, I would not state that it is surely AT. I'd state, based on my interpretation of those two sets of images, I suspect that they could be AT.
What are these things generally worth, in the shape they're in? If worth a few bucks, I would send them in and see what the TPG thinks.
That combination of burnt ochre and faded blue on the Philippines coin is classic AT. You can also see the "painted on" characteristic on the obverse that looks like something pooled on the coin, rather than naturally toned.
Agreed. The crowns look AT to me. The toning is not progressive, and almost looks painted on. I would bet on a gassing job for them. Shame, as they are beautiful coins.
I am a blast white aficionado, so I wouldn’t dare hazard a guess whether these at AT or NT….. But I do clearly remember a thread here several years back. A lady had inherited an ASE from her deceased dad. That ASE had spent its life in dads curio cabinet adjacent to his living room window and the coin had developed a beautiful circular rainbow halo and it was a striking piece….. But what I saw was how many of the toned coin guys on this site accused this lady of artificially toning that ASE. She was flabbergasted and confused. She didn’t have a clue what this AT/NT discussion was all about…… What I gleaned from all that is that I don’t think anybody truly knows. I have even seen TPG labels that ready “questionable toning”….. So if the TPG experts aren’t sure, how can any of the rest of us be?
A 5X held to the screen reveals the cleaning attempt and Sulphur spotting. Maybe left in the solution too long. That brackish black...whew. Classic Chicago. Where is Rick these days, btw?
Yep, a known doctoring method, because of the high Sulphur content...the reaction of iron and Sulphur "odor" trapped in a sealed container. Some Doctors add a few drops of Liver of Sulphur as a combo. The spotting on that piece is classic.