The Myth of toned coins.....

Gawd - that's a beauty!

 

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So what does a buffalo straight from the mint look like that is not dipped? One that has been as well cared for as possible, maybe stored in a back vault for a few years. Same for the red wheat cents? I have several buffs blazing with luster with a light to dark golden toning. I only have 1 wheatie and it is RB that I like.

 

You know I think I paid $40 for this coin, and I still count it worth every cent.

 

hows the reverse on that quarter?

toning doesnt work for all coins but it sure makes your everyday coin alot more collectible. without attractive PL, DMPL and toned morgans i would have more like 2 or 3 and not 10. when i cant afford a good early date large cent (thats most of the time) i know theres more affordable morgan or peace dollars to be looked at.

 

Huh ??!??!?

Whut tha... ? Wha... ?

 

i don't believe in 100 yr old RED copper coins...ain't no way they can be "original" unless the coins came from an original roll.

 

not true...silver coins can be brilliant white if they came out of an original roll. i bought a few original rolls of dollars in the early 80's,except for the two toned end coins the rest were all blast white.

 

Sheesh, folks! As a beginner, I've heard a bit about rabidly opinionated numismatists. Then compound that with internet-given anonymity and you get threads like this. Not that I'm close to reconsidering or anything but it is truly a turn-ff to the hobby for a younger (or any new) collector - especially when you can tell that the vast majority of the loudest opinions are coming from otherwise smart people.

aaaannnyyyway. I first looked at this thread because I was personally pretty distraught by what I saw as a saturation of artificially-toned (or artificial-toned-looking) coins as I browsed eBay. And I probably wanted some vindication. For me, it really pushed me away from any coloration. Seeing bqcoin's and the other poster's Barber examples on the second page gave me a bit of hope though. I find those examples - along with the nice one from BR549 - breathtakingly beautiful. Point is, as others have said, it's personal preference. And that can change. While I don't think I'll ever be too attracted to the "comet"-type toned coins and I'll always feel that ATed coins are disingenuous in a way, I also don't really care if you want to buy them. My eye goes for non-Lisa Frank specimens - that just means less demand for those that do!

So sure, this debate represents a schism of sorts in preference, but it seems it's much more of a spectrum that a clear cut dichotomy of opinion. Cheers to those posters that tried to put things in perspective. The thread would be intolerable otherwise.

 

Yeah it's called insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!

 

Boone,

There is no right or wrong answer to whether or not you should collect blast white or toned coins. Everyone should collect what they like, but that is no reason why those who prefer one over the other should "put down" those who disagree with them.

It's unfortunate, but true, that there are many SleazeBay sellers who prey on those who don't have sufficient knowledge, and that applies not only to AT'ed coins but to altered, cleaned and fake coins as well. The only way you can protect yourself and reduce the chance of "being taken" is through education. So, regardless of whether someone is pro or con on this issue is no reason for anyone to feel intimidated by the differences of opinion if, in the end, others can benefit from the knowledge gained.

Chris

 

Chris,

I totally agree with your "right or wrong answer" sentiments and was trying to make the same point if that didn't come across in my earlier post. It's not differences of opinion, it's some other message board-induced caveman phenomena. And it's not intimidating, it's just annoying to have to weed through it to find the knowledge that you are referring to and the fun of the hobby. But we can have that discussion elsewhere I guess. I do appreciate all the wonderful pictures that have been posted and the discussion on toning progression.... also the Power Rangers.

 

Here's another take on toning, the toning on the 1917 S SLQ in the first photo I post, represents the kind of toning I like. It is not the bright, rainbow toned, irredescent coin, examples of which have been posted throughout this thread. But I find it very attractive. You might call this 'original patina.'

If you dipped this coin, it would destroy it. To illustrate my point, look at the 1928 S SLQ, of roughly the same grade in the second photo I posted. That coin has obviouisly been dipped/whizzed/cleaned. I look at that coin, and using my most erudite vocabulary say: "Yecchh!"

Now it's possible some would prefer the cleaned coin, but in our hobby today, the vast majority of collectors prefer the uncleaned version, and the market reflects that.

As I become more experienced in collecting, my appreciation for toned/orignal non-cleaned coins continues to grow and, I submit, so will the tastes of the OP.

 

I'm interested in knowing, too. I don't think that the Mint even used rolls for Ike dollars, let alone, Morgan and Peace.

Chris

 

common date Morgan rolls. 84-O,85-O,88-P and there was one other roll but i forgot the date.

 

I wonder how many times since the Treasury releases of the 60's that those Morgans were searched, dipped, rewrapped and resold as "original" rolls.

Chris

 

not from the mint...these Morgan rolls were paper wrapped at the banks and only the end coins were toned where the paper flap made contact with coins the rest were brilliant white.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-AMERICAN-S...-US-COIN-/140438437233?pt=Coins_US_Individual