I found this while searching for toned coins last night. Read the whole description. This is different from the guy that uses electricity to tone his coins. So I wonder....would the grading companies grade these as artificially toned or would they squeak by? The Ebay link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1923-S-Peac...24?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item1e87bd8840 What he says: About the Toning: The toning on this coin is from a bonding reaction between the coin's surface silver molecules and natural occurring sulfides -the same process by which silver coins normally develop tones over much longer periods of time. I have worked as a metal artisan for many years. I toned both sides of this coin. Unlike coins that have been electronically anodized, this toning is achieved without a damaging chemical bath. Many toned coins have thin, pastel-looking colors or unnatural looking tones which appear to lay on the surface. This coin has tones that are deep, rich and natural looking because they are created by the same process under which silver coins tone naturally. And exactly as on silver coins that tone naturally over a period of many years, these tones are permanent and stable under normal handling and storage conditions. This spectacular coin is a valuable and unique addition to any silver collection. It is is shipped in an archival, air-tight capsule.
I don't think that coin would grade at either NGC or PCGS. It is butt ugly, and the seller should be dipped in a chemical castration bath. Chris
Well at least he admits it. That's something right? I have a few that look like that, but notice the difference in the actual color? Theirs: Mine:
Are your coins graded gbroke? Just curious. I have to wonder what that seller's process is. The seller claims "This coin has tones that are deep, rich and natural looking because they are created by the same process under which silver coins tone naturally." If one accelerates a process using heat, a catalyst, or another step, is it still the same "process"?
Back to the lab, Doc. But as long as he's being up-front about what he did, my only objection is "well, there's another common-date coin trashed".
Dunno. Is it the same "process" if Grampa left his bag of Morgans in the attic for 60 years instead of in the basement? Is it the same "process" if somebody jingles his lowball-candidate Morgan around in his pocket for a couple of years, instead of actually spending it repeatedly?
How many different ways can silver go from AG to AGNO3 in a short period of time and what is involved in those processes?
THAT would be dissolving silver in nitric acid, which is A Bad Thing, unless you need silver nitrate more than you need the coin. (I did exactly that once in high school; I needed silver nitrate for several things, and I didn't need another impaired 1964 dime, so the dime lost.) If you want to talk about the detailed molecular-scale mechanisms of oxidizing silver to Ag2S, I'm not your guy -- I never got very far with the inorganic reaction-mechanism stuff.
My objection is WAY bigger than that. Sure, the seller informs the buyer that he toned them. But, what about once this coin changes hands a few times? At some point the information hat this coin is AT will be left out.
