If it’s a Type 1 or 2a in junk silver with a readable date I buy it, no questions asked. I’ve seen plenty of T1s but all dateless (and all with razor sharp shield rivets and drapery reaching to the floor). Haven’t yet found one with even a ghost of a 7.
That could easily be an MS67, NGC loved crusty toned war nickels with clean surfaces back in the "old fatty" days.
I don't think it matters. Here is an MS67 that I found in an old fatty holder with near terminal rim toning on both sides, complimented by stunning lustrous rainbow toning on the remainder of the surfaces. Now it is certainly possible that the rim toning didn't exist when the coin was encapsulated and the coin turned in the holder. But if that was the case, why would NGC upgrade the coin from MS67 to MS67 5FS when I submitted the coin for designation review? It seems more logical me that NGC simply doesn't find deep rim toning detrimental to the overall grade in the way that most collectors think it should.
I’m not well versed with toning and as proof near every toned coin I’ve submitted including 120 yr old Uncle Crustys coins from the folder have come back QC. Does dark toning in itself signal and potential for damage vs say the typical rainbow stuff?
I think if you asked most collectors that question, they would say that dark toning should limit the grade of the coin. My experience with TPG grading says otherwise, unless the toning is so pronounced that it qualifies for the moniker of environmental damage. The toning on @potty dollar 1878 1945-S or my 1945-D will be considered neutral with respect to the overall grade of the coin.
This goes back a few years, but the store owner talked to my brother so long about pocket watches that I figured I'd buy something, and I didn't have a 1976 Ike. I think I paid $39. And it came with this great business card (he actually gave these to my kids but I stole them).
Damn you Zoid you made me go look at Dan's page again... No more Stella's but I couldn't resist the Owl lol...