Do mercs usually tone like this? A friend of mine brought this to me to look at and I told him it was a common merc but knew toning could bring a premium but wanted to get some opinions first so here I am. Getting Opinions. I am not into toned coins. So I am very limited on the subject. Thanks for your help.
Yes shoopig you have a slightly toned coin, but the first thing that drew my eye was the damage to the "head" side of the coin. That green stuff isn't toning! Sorry to have to tell you this. It has some serious problems.
I knew it had some problems. I am just trying to learn about toning and I dont come across many with more than tan/brownish album toning.
Toning is literally in the eye of the beholder. Some toning appeals to some while others will state otherwise. What is natural verus artificial has been discussed many times before. Here is a oldie, but goodie thread on the subject: http://www.cointalk.org/thread2514-toning----artificial-or-natural.html I have started to appreciate toned Buffalo nickels, Morgan nickels and even some nicely toned IKE's have recently caught my eye. But that is just me. But there is a HUGE market premium for toned beauties. Check out this auction for a 1986 toned SAE that went for over $1,400!!: 1986 Toned Silver American Eagle
Place a BU Cent on a Light bulb and leave it there for about 5 min...them turn off the light and leave the coin there for 3 min...then look at it. You will have an artificial toned coin-- When I think of a Toned coin I think of a BU coin that has toned and not a coin in a lower grade. Speedy
Thank you Speedy, as I had never thought of it in exactly this way. But you are describing exactly how I view "toned" coins. They got to be at least uncirculated. Bright uncirculated is even better.
Don't know exactly how many silver coins I have in simular condition (quite a few LOL), but none of them look like that. Don't know if the photos have been photoshopped or what, but that seems to be a very odd color combination for a silver coin in that condition. As you probably already know, most of these tone in various shades of gray.
QUOTE by jody526: Don't know exactly how many silver coins I have in simular condition (quite a few LOL), but none of them look like that. Don't know if the photos have been photoshopped or what, but that seems to be a very odd color combination for a silver coin in that condition. I "photoshopped" some of these coins to bring out the colors. Some of them I have in frames as it really dresses up my office. Also, some people will ask, "Do you collect coins?" and sometimes I will discover an associate that is into coins. "Forget business, tell me what you collect!" It's not like we have a neon sign over our head stating, "Coin Collector", but these pics sure have broken the ice on more than one occasion.
I forgot to add that it is interesting to see RB Lincolns listed and sold as "toned". You see that especially with Proof Lincolns. A RB Proof Lincoln doesn't sound as nice as "rainbow colored toned" proof. So the question then becomes: If the Lincoln has any other colors other than Red and Brown, is it toned or should it be listed as RB or B, but obvioulsy not Red?
