This is one of my favorite coins. They sold for $1 at the time which was a lot of money back in 1925. I love that it’s got a California theme with a gold miner on the obverse and a grizzly bear on the reverse. The artwork on the reverse reminds me a lot of James Earl Fraser’s buffalo design except it’s a grizzly bear.
Of the classic commemoratives, I agree, this is one of my favorites as well. You have a very nice example. Here's mine which is also graded MS64:
I purchased the medals, below, about 15 years ago. The side that appears to be brass was facing up in the presentation case with a thin plastic cap covering each medal. When I removed them to take photos, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the underside of each medal had toned a warm, almost copper color. I could only assume that the paper lining the presentation case may have contained sufficient sulfur to stimulate the toning. Ever since I acquired them, they have been encased in airtites and have not toned further. Note: I bought them because of the bear!
Just slows it down a great deal, probably a factor of 10 or more depending on the holder. Toning can be enhanced in a holder by........ [sorry that is a secret] But you have less control over it. Jim
That seems like a bad idea though. Toning should be natural in my opinion and Id rather buy a coin that wasn’t toned at all than buy a coin that someone toned artificially. As far as I’m concerned artificial toning is just “environmental damage”.
I only believe in natural toning in terms of the coins I buy/trade. Artificial toning is just damage in my opinion. Like when people put them in the oven and stuff.
