Artificial Toning - COin Doctors by PCGS

cplradar · Sep 5, 2021

https://www.pcgs.com/news/detecting-doctored-coins-part-1

QUESTIONABLE TONING

All U.S. coins tone to some degree. How and to what degree are determined by various factors. Their metal content, where and how they are stored, and atmospheric conditions play the biggest roles in determining the depth and color of the toning. When acquired naturally over time, toning is often viewed as a positive attribute of grading, unless it becomes too dark, thick, mottled, or splotchy. When the toning results from the application of chemicals to the surface of a coin over a short period of time, perhaps with the use of heat to speed the process, the coin is said to have artificial or questionable toning.

The most obvious difference between natural and questionable toning is the way in which the toning "lies" upon the surface of a coin. When an original coin tones over time, the toning appears to be attached to the surface from the "bottom up." There is an appearance of depth to the toning and the colors are rich and natural looking. When a coin is toned quickly by the introduction of chemicals and/or heat to the coin's surfaces, the toning floats on the surface and the color lacks depth. The toning appears shallow and not "attached" to the surface, as with original color. The colors associated with this type of toning tend to be unnatural-looking, often called "crayon" colors because they look as though they were "colored" on the coin's surface-weak pastel colors "painted" by a first-grader.
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Artificial Toning - COin Doctors by PCGS

cplradar Talmud Chuchum

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Artificial Toning - COin Doctors by PCGS

cplradar Talmud Chuchum

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