Could stuff like this crash the toned coin market?

I'm talking about the long range. Now, the TPGS have a vested interest in upgrading coins for color. After a decade or two (perhaps when AT is not detectable) collectors will want bright coins again. So, long term, fifty years (well after I'm dead) the market will probably go back to "brilliant" than back to "toned." Just as has happened in the past.

 

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....and then everybody will be dipping.

 

Edit...

 

I wonder if he is selling taco bell napkins...

 

I couldn't resist and bought his hair coloring (errmmm coin toning kit) and will give it a try. So have a close look at the next toners I'll be posting and tell me if they're NT or not LOL

 

If it'll tone copper, I'm in.

 

His description says it involves no chemicals, heat, or anything applied to the coin's surface.

Sounds like an envelope you put your coin in. Maybe a sulfur packet.

 

All toning is the same - it's a silver sulphide reaction creating a thin interference film.

Where it happened unintentionally, smoothly and/or over a long period of time, we call it 'natural' and some people pay premium prices,

Where it happened intentionally, abruptly and/or over a short period of time (accelerated) we call it artificial and less acceptable. [Especially the abrupt changes that aren't the 'natural' sequences]


But chemically it's the same process and same result.



The other question is a market question. If the market for toned coins is x and the supply is y where x > y then there is a premium due to supply and demand.

If these magic toning beans create a supply z where x > y + z, then both NT and AT have a premium since more people want toned coins (of any type) than the supply. The conditions that lead to a premium for NT over AT are left to the reader.

If y + z > x *and* if you can tell NT from AT, then it is really two markets, where x > y and the relationship between z and x' is unclear (x' is the market for AT coins). In this scenario NT has a price premium and AT could have either a premium or a discount.

If y + z > x and you can't tell them apart, then the excess of supply over demand causes prices to decline and both NT and AT suffer...


The current market seems to be one where x > y and x ~= y + z. ( ~= means approximately equal) with limited ability to differentiate AT from NT. That is people want NT and maybe toned in general, but not quite enough to do more than clear the market. (Most offerings sell). Hence the crazy premiums for what people think are NT.

 

Don't PCGS classify artificial toning as damaged and give them a "details" classification?

 

Yeah, "Questionable Color." And it's getting tougher to get a raw toner into a slab.

 

Half dollar kennedy 2002 D did anyone since the coin with a little cross by the right side by the Y

 

I like that he has a special kit for "ancient" coins. Yes, please tell me how to ruin my priceless ancient coins.

 

I don't need a kit to tone ancient coins... I already know how to do it.

 

or you could try this....

 

I quickly scanned through his present and completed listings and see no such coin. I don't see it shown elsewhere either, so may I ask what, exactly, are you talking about?

 

I don't think he knows

 

The market for originality, however, will almost certainly never die off. There will always be a (large) portion of the collecting community that highly values originality over cleaned, dipped, or processed coins. Toning, as a natural result of a coins existence, is part of that originality. The extremely high premiums for the screaming moose might drop some - but they will always be there. They are attractive, unique, and scarce - and thus, will always command a premium (maybe not as much as they did at the peak, but more than a dipped white coin).

 

...unless the dipped white coin looks 100% original and the market makers prefer that "look" over an original toned one as has happened in the past.

I'll take a blast white, gem original, Barber half dollar over a beautifully toned one anytime - now or in the future. That's an example of a coin type that looks better (IMO) than the majority of toned ones that are hiding hairlines and high point rub. Same goes for Mercury dimes. One the other hand, I prefer a blast white, gem original Morgan with beautiful partial rainbow colors that contrast the white. It's all a subjective thing, yes?

I'm on page 91 of your book. Very nice treatment of the subject. When finished, I'm going to take the liberty to make a few suggestions for your consideration that you may wish to put in the second edition.

 

For personal eye appeal yes it is. What really seems to kind of swing the price pendulum is what has more available. I don't think it is any secret there have always sort of been two camps, blast white vs toning. The price swings seem to be in some part due to the fact that one camp has less available then the others. If everything is blast white for the most part but you love toners you will have to pay up. The reverse is true as well. Sellers who track the market then adjust what they target based on the top prices which really creates this never ending sea-saw of pricing.