found a couple pennies today that have a rainbow sort of toning thing going on. not sure if thats a good thing or bad thing? or if it makes it more valuable? its sort of like this but the toning is less in your face and has nice smooth transitions from pink, purple, orange. its a 1974 and the only thing close to a mint mark i see is f6 or fg or something like that to the right of the memorial
Depends who you ask. Some people love toning, some hate it. As for value wise, if it is natural toning, and you can find the right person-- it could be more valuable.
I love toned coins personally. The more amazing the better imo. I however am not much of a penny collector. Im more a halves, silver dollars and gold sorta collector.
IMO, your coin qualifies as a "good thing". The toning is moderately attractive. Toning is one of those things - You either like it, or you don't - But, in this situation, the toning, IMHO, is beneficial to the coin's value. Now, don't get me wrong, there are such things as "bad toning", like toning that may have developed from a coin's storage in a PVC-exposed environment. This type of "toning" can actually be harmful to the coin, and, ultimately, it's value. It's always good to educate yourself in how to tell one from the other. -Brian
Mintmark would be under the date. No mark means phillie The fg by the memorial would be the designers initials
I would consider it a good thing, but not all of them are. However, their value is minimal unless you can get them certified. That is far from an easy task today.
Speaking strictly about natural toning, not doctored...it can be pretty, desirable, and merit a premium. Or it can be ugly, unwanted, and force a discount. This is true of all coins, not just pennies. The only thing a little different about copper is that many collectors pay more (sometimes much more) for elusive cents in full red, and even attractive toning is worth less to them if the color downgraded to RB or BN as a result. Lance.
I was going to say the same thing. I would consider toning overall a bad thing in copper if its a choice between red and toning. Now, between brown and toning then its debatable. There is no such designation as "full white" for silver, so its a different discussion. Chris
Toning on any coin really depends on a collector's taste. The cents does tone differently than silver though but I find more collectors like their cents red rather than toned.
