These questions have probably all been answered on this forum before but my searching can't find exactly what I looking for so if you gys can help me with these please do so. 1) Are cleaned/dipped coins dull or bright? Is there any telltale items to look for to determine? 2) Does toning generally adversely affect a coin's grading (ie. points deducted when grading) 3) Is the only surefire way to trust an ebay/website purchase as to quality, photo only, to buy a 3rd party company "graded" Morgan and/or make sure the company/person has a good return policy? I live in central Louisiana and we only have one coin dealer in my area and his prices seem soooo high compared to ebay/website companies so I can't really depend on buying morgans from him. Thanks for any info. With the prices on good quality Morgans being what they are ($$$) I'm trying to find out everything I can before buying any. Everyone has been so helpful on another post I made about pricing Morgan "O" so any helpful tips will help.
1. Usually dipping with look dull. Whizzing is bright. Cleaning can be either depending on what methods are used. 2. Toning doe not affect grading, but will effect the value both ways. Some like beautiful toning, and some hate it. 3. Surefire. NO. You really have to know your dealer/seller. Take as much time learning about them as you do your coins. Take recommendations from others. For Ebay, I recommend two sellers. Tradernick, and Susanlynn9. I have dealt with both and have always been very pleased with their profession attitudes and the quality of their business practices.
Although toning may not affect grades, I consider toned coins as "damaged". Toning to me just looks so unnatural. David
I think "tarnished" is a more accurate description. IMHO "Toning" is just a euphemism, in the same category with "pre-owned" instead of "used", to glamorize the description of something you are trying to sell.
1 - Dipped coins can be either Mint bright or dull and lifeless. The reason for this is simple. Let's say a collector has a mint state Morgan dollar - but the coin has toned over the years, as silver does, to a natural grey color instead of a bright, shiny silver. So the collector dips the coin and does it properly. This removes the grey color and makes the coin bright just like the day it was minted. But because the dip is in fact a mild acid, a minute amount of metal is also removed. But the amount is so small that it does not remove all of the luster from the coin's surface. But some time later, the coin retones, and the collector decides to dip it again to make bright once more. So again a minute amount of metal is removed. I think you get the idea - every time a coin is dipped it loses some luster - even when dipped properly. But if it is dipped improperly or too many times - the luster will eventually be destroyed leaving the coin a dull, flat washed out grey. Again - it can go both ways. If the toning is thought to be attractive and adds to the eye appeal of the coin by the person grading the coin - grading points can actually be gained. So a coin that otherwise might grade MS64 can be graded MS65. And yes the grading companies do this - even NGC & PCGS. But if the toning is unattractive and lessens the eye appeal of the coin - then points can be deducted. It is purely subjective for as they say - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nothing is surefire - photos can be easily manipulated and 3rd party graders can and do make mistakes. So buying any coin without seeing it in person has its risks. And a good return policy is a must whenever you buy a coin on the internet or in person.
Now after reading this post, I'm even more confused about toning. Before I was against buying "toned/tarnished" coins and was just looking for blast white type coins but now I'm afraid they may have just been "dipped". How can one be safe that the coin has not been dipped?
You can't. In the first place, it is estimated that 80 - 90% of all Morgan dollars have been dipped at one time or another. What you can be reasonably assured of is not buying an over-dipped coin as long as you buy coins with good luster.
