Thoughts on this 1953 Proof Set?

I may have just made the worst buy in a long time. I'll be honest here I payed 250, but it was a total impulse buy. I think before I got to clicking that the Franklin, Quarter, and Dime were natural toning, but I am very up in the air about this. I don't understand the spot mark on GW's head. What are your thoughts on this set? Much Appreciated. ~Jason

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260897956298?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

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I gotta admit that I don't know a speck of dust about toning rather than that it changes the color of the coin, but the colors seem to be very out of whack to me, but then it starts to show on the reverse, and I start to think "Natural" because it isn't evenly toned. But do not take my word because I have no clue. But for now, I am going to have to stick with my gut and say Artificial Toning.

 

Jason, are the colors in these images a good representation of the coins in hand? Could you get some higher res photos of the toning? The spot on the head is not necessarily an indicator of artificial toning.

 

I don't know yet GB, I just bought them on the bay. If they are AT the guy did a great job of marketing them.

 

I will reserve my opinion until you get them and show us some sweet pics. After buying so many toned coins from ebay, one thing I learned is the pictures are rarely accurate as far as the colors go.

Here is a great example of a morgan I bought from ebay. I knew these were juiced and in fact, made them look artificial. I had a sneaky suspicion it was natural and from the Tidy House cardboard giveaways.

sellers pictures:



What it looks like in hand (shot with different lighting):

 

WOW. Nice Morgan.

 

It is tough telling just with these pics if it is NT or AT. I think I would like to see some more detailed photos first.. I'm not even close to an expert on toning.. It looks like you have a good return option if needed at least..

 

Think I like the real look of that Morgan WAY better!!

 

I'm pretty sure they didn't tone like that in their original gov. Box . Doesn't mean that they didn't tone that way in some other holder or that holder. Really would need better picks to make an educated guess , still a nice set . You could give it a fast dip if you know how to do it .

 

I'm no expert in toning...and better photos would help, but these coins seem to have a swirling pattern to the color which I tend to see on a lot of the AT coins on eBay. Naturally toned coins seem to have a nice flowing progression to the colors and these coins do not. That worries me.

 

I'm skeptical about all toning. The price you paid though is pretty fair I think for the '53 Proof set, that's about the going rate without toning.

 

Looks pretty normal to me.

The spot on the Washington is unfortunate but not atypical.

I wouldn't dip them. I'll bet they look pretty nice in hand.
Lance.

 

Just my humble opinion but first I think you have to ask yourself why didn't the nickel tone along with the rest of the coins? Even the copper cent has toned and is starting toward red/brown and is spotting. I would expect especially with that much gold toning on the silver that the nickel would have have a golden hue to it as well and if not at least blue. Especially from the mid fifties back. Second thing you have to ask is was this a thrown together set of odds and ends toned coins and only nickel to complete the set was blast white?

 

Thank you all. I held out for almost 6 months on a proof set, and this one struck a chord with me. I hope it is natural, but if not they will go into my personal collection.

 

Actually, these are running anywhere from $225-$265 in the OGP so you didn't really do to bad on the price.

 

No, BUncirc pointed out, you got it for the market money that it commands. And I happen to know there are Doubled Die cents and nickels for 1953 proofs. For the cent, there would be strong doubling in the 1 & 9 and the nickel would have doubling in "In God We Trust". Error collectors are paying in the neighborhood of $50-75 for the cent in PF65 and $200-300 for the nickel in PF65. It would be a nice surprise if you landed either, and the DDO's are subtle enough that not many know about them nor do they cherrypick them.

 

Different metals tone in different ways. Silver and copper are prone to oxidation (toning), whereas the copper-nickel composition of the nickel is more resistant.

 

Oh no doubt about different metals toning at different rates. Many times putting copper coins in albums will start the process in just those few minutes. I'm also not disputing if it's natural tone. However you do have to admit something either air or humidity, maybe just old age and the holder itself but something is getting in there and oxidizing the coins. Except one. If just seems from personal experience that when OGP proof cases or capital holders have cracks or leaks all the coins change not just some. I just feel if it was my money I would want an original set where the coins toned together under the same conditions not one that was put together from two or three sets.

 

GDJMSP is right my sister and law gave me a silver eagle the bank gave her as a birthday gift.It was in a plastic holder and the top was open.I noticed after a few years it started to tone on the end that was opened.I am not a fan of toned coins so i later cleaned it.The ones you have looked like mine did. I am not sure how much of my coin would have toned as of today its out of that folder.