I saw feedback for a coin graded by ICG bought on Ebay which claims the coin has been artificially toned. Is it possible for coins graded by ICG to be artificially toned?
That’s not an AT coin... there is virtually no toning on that coin. Also, your question doesn’t make any sense. ICG wouldn’t straight grade an AT coin if that’s your question. It would receive a details grade. See: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1922-monster-toned-peace-dollar.258642/page-2
What about that coin bothers you? It looks like some light yellow and lavender and not toning that would be deemed questionable by ICG or any other TPG.
I don't think anything about the coin bothers him. It's this - He's wanting to know if the feedback he read is truthful or not. And, if ICG is more likely to slab AT coins than any other TPG is. Of course he's already been given the correct answers - no, the feedback is not truthful, and, ALL of the TPGs are equally as likely to slab AT coins.
I do see a little faint toning on the picture of the first coin so I am not sure if the comment about artificial toning on the coin is not truthful. Since so many of the toned dollars graded by ICG sold by this seller have toning that is similar or looks alike I am suspicious the toning on these coins is artificial. Many of them have light lavender and yellow toning on them with also a little black toning on them. NCG and PCGS now grade artificially toned coins? I didn't know their problems with grading also extended to toning on coins.
I have no idea what his experience level is with toned coins or TPGs. He asked about the generalization that he read online, then he asked about a specific coin, so I responded.
If you have questions about artificially/questionably toned coins residing in problem free TPG holders, please read the thread linked below. The Slabbed NGC-PCGS AT/QT thread
Things that look artificial can happen naturally just as things that look natural can be artificial. The natural that looks artificial is far far more common but trying to decide how it happened is a fools errand which is why it just matters if its market acceptable or not.
Late to the party again. Unfortunately for me, I have not been able to spend much time on CT - the place I first got my feet wet in an Internet Forum. The OP's question has been answered. AT coins have passed all the TPGS's as NT. This will continue. AFAIK, all the TPGS have tightened their standards for "market acceptable" toning. I'm pretty sure (not positive) coins that could go one way or the other will be called NT if the "job" has produced a coin with great eye appeal. You cannot judge the true color of a coin's toning in an image. In many cases, just the angle of the light can make the color of a coin look one way or the other.
