Is this coin artificially toned?

Hey guys, a lot of people here have been telling me this coin looks AT, I just wanted to get some more opinions for this, also if you think it is AT, how do you tell so I can know for the future?

 

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It looks pretty natural to me, but I'm no expert.

Nice coin! :thumb:

 

cool that's good to hear, yeah the reason I picked this one was mostly b/c when I was looking around at VDB coins the vbd was always kinda hard to see even on the unc coins but on this one it seems to stand out, and for this series I feel it's kind of important to keep that there and as visible as possible. This is an ebay pic too, the actual coin hasn't shown up yet, I would have liked to post a better/closer view pic.

it's kinda funny about the v.d.b issue too, I mean who did that guy think he is putting his initials on the coin, lol wtf?!

 

It is just guessing until you have it in hand and can get good photos. A call either way would probably at the best only be 75% or so, as there are AT jobs so good, you can't tell them from NT , and NT under odd environments that look easily like AT. That is why the TPG use the term " Questionable color".

The questions I see are (1) the small untoned spots on the obverse ( like over the date) and on the reverse ( near stem of wheat stalks). These can occur when a toning solution beads around a speck of dust or debris, and very small air bubbles keep it from spreading evenly over the surface. (2) the tone appears too flat in this photo. Since the yellow and even the red and blue are thin film enough to allow the underlying luster to show through the tone if the cent hasn't been dipped and then AT to cover the effects.

Awaiting better photos I suspect the cent was dipped to remove corrosion or spots and then retoned to cover the loss of luster.

Jim

 

Well, Deadcat, I guess the real question is, does it matter to you, the owner of the coin, whether or not the toning is AT or not? If you're happy with it, then there's no problem. I for one think it's a neat looking coin. I think it has problems as the color isn't right to me, but all in all I wouldn't mind owning one like that because it looks kind of nice.
Guy~

 

It looks like a coin that's been through the washing-machine to my eye (soap will give the same look), but I can't discount the MS-70 possibility either.

 

kinda new to collecting, does this mean no... it's just a really good coin? I guess my real question is, what is MS70?

 

MS-70 is a coin cleaner which happens to produce an electric blue toning on copper -- but more prevalent on proofs than mint state coins, in my experience.

If MS-70 were used, most people would consider it AT.

 

The thing is it's a very nice coin by my eye, but I don't want to buy something I'm being ripped off for, would you think this coin is worth about 23$? I think so, unless AT. It's a good point you bring up though.

 

p.s. is the toning more blue in hand than the purple shown in the photo?

 

p.p.s. The only person who can judge if the coin is worth $23 is YOU.

 

I meant the consumer driven established price

I haven't got it just yet, these are the pics from the ebay auction. But if more blue than most likely ms70 was used?

 

There is no "consumer driven established price" for toned coins of unkown grade -- thus my comment.

And, yes, the inference is that if the coin is more blue than purple then it is more likely that soap/MS-70 caused the toning.

 

I think you're over examining my original question, obviously vdb pennies will go for a certain rate, which will vary, but on average would be less than a coin advertised as toned.

I just don't want to pay a NT price for an AT coin, basically.

In the future I'm gonna keep an eye out for heavy blue tones and try to stay away from them, I was looking on ebay at already ended auctions, looks like I didn't pay too much for this, I'd just be kinda ticked if I found out it was AT, almost like the coin is ruined.

Thanks for those tips too btw.

 

I saw the auction for that and you got a good price for it. I was seriously considering bidding. It looks natural to me.

 

are you serious?

 

The coin is AT and would never grade. It's a $20 coin as is to some.

 

It looks cool. AT or NT, it is cool looking!

 

I think the coin looks more, "baked"
Looks like a burnt chip, with some soap cooked in
Just weird, and odd looking
The toning is questionable...
I'm wondering if it would get body bagged at NGC...Or if they would grade it..