Browsing Teletrade this week at todays(sundays) auction I came across this PCGS graded Walking Liberty Half and instantly it struck me as odd. Now I know these might not be the best pictures, and it might not look exactly this way in hand but I haven't came across any silver that toned with such a light, almost baby blue toning. Something just didn't feel right on this one. Have any of you came across toning colors such as these? Did PCGS mark this one as just "market acceptable" or am I seeing it wrong? I would love some of your guys input on this one. The auction can be found: >>>Here<<<
I saw this as well and I questioned the color. I have not seen this shade of blue on a coin, but what do I know? We need Lehigh's opinion on this one.
I think it will be darker in hand and appears to be light due to the light used when they took the photo, JMO.
Powder blue is a very common color on silver coins. Typically you will see a band of powder blue in the first progression of rainbow colors on a bag toned Morgan. As you know, the color progression of rainbow toning is repeating patterns of yellow-magenta-cyan. Powder blue is the first shade of cyan seen in the progression. Although it is more rare to see this color appear in a monochromatic fashion, it does happen. I don't have a WLH but I do have a crescent toned Morgan that re-toned all in powder blue. I have seen many coins that have light baby blue toning including nickels. I think Larry has a fantastic baby blue Buffalo and I have an interesting baby blue Jefferson. Having said all this, the WLH in the Teletrade auction looks bizarre and it would cause me to investigate the originality of the toning further. Unfortunately, to do so, you would need to see the coin in hand. In the end, baby blue toning in itself is not an indicator of AT.
Thank you Lehigh for such a detailed explanation into this toning. I do still have a few questions though. To me the transitioning from the yellow to the powder blue doesn't flow at all, it seems the yellow stops instantly and the blue appears. And the yellow color itself seems weird. But again, we are judging all this off of a single photo. and second, "WHL" doesn't ring a bell in my acronym book. EDIT: after brief deliberation with the other side of my brain, it suddenly occurred to me that WLH = walking liberty half. duh.
I can't answer your question. The toning on that coin looks very odd to me. I don't know from a small photo whether it is the color progression or something else. What I do know is that I would not even consider buying that coin sight unseen.
Teletrade isn't known for their jaw-dropping photography. Their pictures are often not representative of how the coin looks in hand. If it's a coin you want, just bid on it. They have a return policy.
I saw this coin as well and something just doesnt seem right. I dont know the WLH series or how they tone... different series and different dates tone differently... so I passed. But it does look suspect to me.
I saw the coin also, and I passed mostly because of the giant spot in front of the eagle's face. I have absolutely no problem with the toning on the rest of the coin. I find it attractive, if unusual. As someone else stated, it was probably put into a small brown envelope a long time ago. This sort of darker coloration, with a blue feel, is not common, but I have seen it before on coins. Many 1950's Franklins have this same feel, especially 1955 and 1956. They are usually a bit darker, but the look is similar.
I don't mind fingerprints on a 64 coin, or some 65's. If the fingerprint blends in to the toning in an attractive or intriguing manner, it can sometimes be kinda cool. Of course, on a 65 it had better be small, had better be very interesting, and had better not distract from the eye appeal.
Being in a PCGS holder usualy gives me confidence but we all know they are tough on color right now. Remember a coin can be toned through a slab if the holder is placed in a baggie with a chunk of sulfer from a chemistry set. I actually try to smell a slab when I am inspecting it with a loupe as sometimes a lingering odor will give it away. Plus the coin isn't a supper valuable date giving a coin doctor little to loose if the coin tones unattractively. Your thoughts?
