Great Re-Toning Method!

I've been trying to assemble a decent looking set of Standing Liberty Quarters. A couple of the ones that I bought on EBay looked great in the photos, but when I got them, they were 'garishly cleaned' with that un-natural look as if they'd spent a day or two in a tub of Jewel Luster.

I've done some research on line about re-toning coins. One of the methods I came across involved exposing cleaned coins to cigar and/or cigarette smoke. Last night, I gave it a try. I fired up a stogie and put one of the cleaned quarters in a littel tupperware container, then blew smoke in that thing every minute or so, and sealed it up. I did this for about a half an hour until the cigar was gone. Left the coin in the tupperware overninght. This morning that SLQ has a nice golden/brown hue to it! It blends in with the naturally toned coins in the album and doesn't stick out like a cleaned sore thumb.

Has anyone else heard of this or tried it?

 

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I love the smell of smokey coins in the morning.

I never heard of that. It sounds like it's stained, not toned.

 

I have never tried it, but I have ran into a few coins that have been re-toned that way. It is considered artificial toning, and it's pretty easy to notice.

 

"I'm not smoking a cigar, I'm increasing the value of my coin collection" I'll see how that goes over in my house. I enjoy a good cigar but with children I enjoy them outside privately on my lower patio. Tobacco smoke damages just about everything it touches. Coins are no exception. Smoke has both acidic and basic compounds making it corrosive.

 

It is a very common method of artificially toning coins. It is important that everyone remember that the practice of AT'ing coins in order to create eye appealing rainbow toning that will drive a price premium is called type 2 AT and is relatively new. The original reason to artificially tone a coin was to hide defects, problems, and surface marks, thereby obtaining a higher grade. Toning produced from smoke is not particularly attractive and will never fall into type 2 AT. However, it can be used to hide cleanings and other surface problems.

My advice to the OP is not to compound the problems of a cleaned coin by artificially toning it. Dump the cleaned coin and seek out a problem free example for your set. I doubt you are going to be happy with the end result of an AT cleaned coin.

 

yeah, thats residual tar from the smoke collecting on the surface of the coin. Its not really good for it.

 

Just imagine what it does to your lungs!

 

I think if the OP wanted to smear peanut butter on it,and light it on fire so it would look presentable in his collection,to each his own.everybody can seek advice and make their own decision based on their own liking.I sure know, there are some here that dont follow their own advice on alot of things they preach.

to each his own=defined=each person is entitled to his or her own personal tastes and opinions. This could apply to a person's choice of romantic partner or musical preference or political leanings or any other pursuit. What might appear offensive or unappealing to some may be quite the opposite for others, so to each his own.

 

Funny thread:mouth:

 

Sounds like a waste of a good cigar.

 

Hey. When I was 16 I acquired a rusty WW2 M-1 Garand Rifle. After sanding the rust smooth, I painted it black.Is this artificial toning?:mouth::crying::mouth:

 

Yea, I agree...this jerry-rig unethical approach to modify these coins, is basically a make-up job, and nothing else but.

Kinda hit a nerve with me, as it reminded me of the time 2 years ago when I bought a wonderful light and brassy coloured Canadian war time tombac 5 cents, that was it a 2 x 2.
A few weeks after I bought it, I wanted to change it to one of my 2x2's so I could put my own comments on it. I soon discovered that I was ripped off because the joker that sold me it, changed the colour by applying a light coloured shoe polish on it.
That was the last time I ever paid a premium based on toning.

 

Cigar or cigarette smoke is just covering up a problem , that someone who doesn't know better may get stuck with in the future . Learn to spot problem coins and if the picture is too bad to tell , pass . Stick to reputable dealers who guarantee their coins or buy slabbed by PCGS or NGC .
rzage

 

Thanks for all your responses and opinions, from all sides of the spectrum. It's good to hear other people's views on the subject.
I've attached the "before" photo of the next cleaned coin going in the smoker; It's a 1928 S that has been garishly cleaned. In fact I think it may have been both whizzed then dipped. Too bad b/c it's a nice VF/XF.

I'll show the "after" pic tomorrow or early next week and see if I can't sway some people's opinions.

 

Can't wait to see the after flics on that coin , I don't think anything can hide the tortures that girl has seen .
rzage

 

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Sigmund Freud

TC

 

I bet if you smoke a raspberry one it will get nice shades of pink, blueberry wil give it a icy blue look, and apple will give in a pleasant green hue.

 

All right everyone, here is the exact same coin, the photo was taken with the exact same camera on the exact same settings, after an hour in the cigar smoker.

It looks like a new coin! Can a trained eye detect that it is cleaned and re-toned, yes, but is it a lot more pleasing to the eye, my answer is an emphatic yes! It's staying in my album, so no ethical dilemmas here.

What do you think?

 

Gotta admit, the after picture looks a lot better than the before pic.