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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;WashQuartJesse, post: 3226538, member: 18323&quot;]I was viewing the toned coin thread earlier tonight and this led me in all sorts of directions. Coin photography has always been one of my challenges and it seems that I still can’t get it right. The non-SMS coins posted before did those coins no service. The quarter album is full of coins with varying degrees of toning and I’m reminded of them with each new post in the toning thread. Tonight, I’d like to share some coins representing what may be my favorite “look” or type of toning. Since toning accounts for so much of what we call “eye appeal,” I also want to consider the rest of the mix as it relates to this series.</p><p><br /></p><p>I’ve mentioned my goal of having only “original surfaces” coins within this thread. There’s no doubt that out of 212 coins, some may not be. However, I believe the vast majority (if not all) are. Any collector that says this had better be (or have once been) familiar with each and every issue’s intricacies. As many here are already aware, the difference in a year, mint, or decade can drastically change what “look” of coin you can realistically expect to obtain. This site, books, internet research, etc… all assisted me in realizing you can’t, for instance, expect the same quality, eye appeal, finish, strike, or whatever, consistently or necessarily. This is especially so within the 1932-1998 Washington series. This is even more so, when pursuing both business strikes and proofs. Face-to-coin experience is probably the best way to understand and appreciate this, but in the real world, this is very difficult to achieve.</p><p><br /></p><p>In terms of the quality, appeal, and attractiveness of the coins I will share below, they are <i>not </i>unique to this album. I identified a particular look I was interested in, having flipped album page after album page from city to city. While these are better examples, I didn’t “cherry pick” them from the album just to share here, so know there are more. Save for the first coin, all were purchased <i>raw</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>My experience would lead me to believe that at least 4 out of the following 5 coins, spent time in collector albums. Based on their appearance, some of you will probably be able to tell us the exact album model, manufacturer, and production date lol. That “time served” was and is important to me. It’s important to me because like “textile toning” or proof issue “milk spots,” it offers some degree of pedigree/origins. When you combine this with blazing/frosty luster, the absence of odd hairlines under 10X magnification, crispy strikes, and an almost prooflike appearance, you can be pretty confident you are dealing with original surfaces NT coinage. The 1937-S is the only example out of the 5 coins below which (unfortunately, IMO) does not also offer some “bare metal silver” for contrast. I just absolutely love it when we are granted this opportunity. It’s so captivating to be able to observe blazing silver and attractive toning on the same piece.</p><p><br /></p><p>As previously suggested, it’s extremely fulfilling to be able to do what you will with the contents of an album. While considering the following coin <i>similarities </i>this evening, I appreciate how diligent and selective <b>I was</b>. Q. David Bowers constantly advised WQ collectors in the Guide Book of WQ’s to never settle. I hope my selectivity is highlighted here, as I feel these are some eye appealing O.S examples!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>1937-S</b>: This coin was graded MS-65 by PCGS. It was purchased for $359.00 back in 2014 and cracked out. It’s an extremely vibrant and lustrous coin with an excellent strike. There are some extremely minor hits which are only perceptible under 5X magnification on focal areas. The fields are absolutely remarkable with what looks to be traces of very faint die polishing. The coin displays a light russet/golden overall hue with a pronounced copper and lavender hue along its Eastern periphery. I agree with the PCGS grade.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c86c9103-d663-42f7-9800-79f019ebbbb4" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c86c9103-d663-42f7-9800-79f019ebbbb4" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/c86c9103-d663-42f7-9800-79f019ebbbb4-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c86c9103-d663-42f7-9800-79f019ebbbb4" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/c86c9103-d663-42f7-9800-79f019ebbbb4" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/58df9227-1ead-449d-90b7-3abc6c9ce985" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/58df9227-1ead-449d-90b7-3abc6c9ce985" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/58df9227-1ead-449d-90b7-3abc6c9ce985-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/58df9227-1ead-449d-90b7-3abc6c9ce985" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/58df9227-1ead-449d-90b7-3abc6c9ce985" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/4e756c68-4dca-4562-9714-65ce173974a3" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/4e756c68-4dca-4562-9714-65ce173974a3" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/4e756c68-4dca-4562-9714-65ce173974a3-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/4e756c68-4dca-4562-9714-65ce173974a3" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/4e756c68-4dca-4562-9714-65ce173974a3" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/3ac9e57a-ae94-4b72-8248-bd0eb3c1a3ee" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/3ac9e57a-ae94-4b72-8248-bd0eb3c1a3ee" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/3ac9e57a-ae94-4b72-8248-bd0eb3c1a3ee-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/3ac9e57a-ae94-4b72-8248-bd0eb3c1a3ee" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/3ac9e57a-ae94-4b72-8248-bd0eb3c1a3ee" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><b>1941-D</b>: This coin was purchased for $65.00 back in 2012. It displays an extremely well-defined strike and frosty cartwheel luster. Under 5X magnification, it’s entirely void of any hit except for a faint bag mark I only noticed while using 10X, but could later observe under 5X. Mostly blast white, an attractive copper/russet tone runs along its NW to SE periphery. Within this periphery, a slight but perceptible line of rainbow toning has developed (crimson/lime/electric blue). Because of that faint bag mark in the hair, I would grade this an extremely strong 66.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/2c3337fe-daca-4e88-bb1b-cd98624c3fc2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/2c3337fe-daca-4e88-bb1b-cd98624c3fc2" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/2c3337fe-daca-4e88-bb1b-cd98624c3fc2-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/2c3337fe-daca-4e88-bb1b-cd98624c3fc2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/2c3337fe-daca-4e88-bb1b-cd98624c3fc2" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/fd0dfee3-c7ae-42d0-a7a9-0b3955f50b34" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/fd0dfee3-c7ae-42d0-a7a9-0b3955f50b34" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/fd0dfee3-c7ae-42d0-a7a9-0b3955f50b34-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/fd0dfee3-c7ae-42d0-a7a9-0b3955f50b34" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/fd0dfee3-c7ae-42d0-a7a9-0b3955f50b34" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/bed28cdb-d7fa-406d-98a7-2b4cdfef5c23" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/bed28cdb-d7fa-406d-98a7-2b4cdfef5c23" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/bed28cdb-d7fa-406d-98a7-2b4cdfef5c23-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/bed28cdb-d7fa-406d-98a7-2b4cdfef5c23" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/bed28cdb-d7fa-406d-98a7-2b4cdfef5c23" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><b>1953</b>: I picked this one up for $14.00 back in 2009 from a local B&amp;M. It is absolutely ripping with luster and has an extremely well-defined strike. The coin has a prooflike appearance with absolutely flawless fields. A few extremely minor bag abrasions on the portrait and a faint hairline over the cheek under 5X. There’s a subtle and very attractive lavender/copper band of toning along its northern edge with even a little electric blue mixed in. I grade this coin a 66.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/e9e2df61-f50d-4ad5-96a4-93ae5afe6d3e" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/e9e2df61-f50d-4ad5-96a4-93ae5afe6d3e" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/e9e2df61-f50d-4ad5-96a4-93ae5afe6d3e-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/40e57629-663f-42d9-a170-f60a557fd72a" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/40e57629-663f-42d9-a170-f60a557fd72a" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/40e57629-663f-42d9-a170-f60a557fd72a-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/5888e680-ee4b-437b-b33a-e04a8dee13dd" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/5888e680-ee4b-437b-b33a-e04a8dee13dd" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/5888e680-ee4b-437b-b33a-e04a8dee13dd-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1956</b>: Purchased raw for $28.00 in 2010, this coin is just screaming with luster and has an extremely pronounced strike. With a prooflike appearance, it exhibits a small bag mark in the western obverse field with some extremely slight chatter on the portrait. The reverse appears near perfect, but careful examination reveals a flaw or two. What I would consider to be a very appealing early copper album tone, lines its edge, and flatters its blast white center. Despite some flaws which I would deem to be more forgivable today, I grade this a 65.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/ade4c581-fe7b-4708-9d0f-a9e711d787e4" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/ade4c581-fe7b-4708-9d0f-a9e711d787e4" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/ade4c581-fe7b-4708-9d0f-a9e711d787e4-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/220284b2-0745-4737-83df-bfdc9d34f5da" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/220284b2-0745-4737-83df-bfdc9d34f5da" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/220284b2-0745-4737-83df-bfdc9d34f5da-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>1958</b>: $14.00 was also paid for this example. I would have purchased it somewhere between 2008-2012. It has that quality 1950’s decade appeal but with a great strike. This one also has some near PL quality. Wonderful luster and clean fields. A die-break runs from eagle head to wing. This coin’s periphery toning has advanced to what I would describe as “stage two.” Some of the russets/coppers/golds/lavenders of the first stage have started to develop into the electric blue, crimson, lime greens, etc… This coin has some minor contact marks under 5X, but they are pleasingly concealed for the most part! This coin is very appealing to me and probably many others. I would have to technically grade this coin somewhere between an MS64 and 65. I assigned a grade to each album coin years ago, this one was assigned a 64+. That plus represented this sort of a split grade.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/669eb9c7-f8c1-4b06-b628-aae9d3146f47" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/669eb9c7-f8c1-4b06-b628-aae9d3146f47" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/669eb9c7-f8c1-4b06-b628-aae9d3146f47-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/669eb9c7-f8c1-4b06-b628-aae9d3146f47" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/669eb9c7-f8c1-4b06-b628-aae9d3146f47" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/625bba3e-44d2-4dde-a8c0-debe60ebff9e" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/625bba3e-44d2-4dde-a8c0-debe60ebff9e" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/625bba3e-44d2-4dde-a8c0-debe60ebff9e-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/625bba3e-44d2-4dde-a8c0-debe60ebff9e" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/625bba3e-44d2-4dde-a8c0-debe60ebff9e" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/a3b4239f-8a93-4a3c-a1fe-dec5c54ddb69" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/a3b4239f-8a93-4a3c-a1fe-dec5c54ddb69" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/a3b4239f-8a93-4a3c-a1fe-dec5c54ddb69-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/a3b4239f-8a93-4a3c-a1fe-dec5c54ddb69" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/a3b4239f-8a93-4a3c-a1fe-dec5c54ddb69" rel="nofollow"><br /></a></p><p><a href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://beta.photobucket.com/u/bugchucka/p/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://beta-static.photobucket.com/images/o106/bugchucka/1/53014ec5-0e5a-4865-b2ac-a0bc37b03bdc-original.jpg?width=1920&amp;height=1080&amp;fit=bounds" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>It’s re-assuring to know my standards have not changed, or have they? Here are my “then” grades to my “now”…</p><p><br /></p><p>Date MM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; “Years Ago” Grade&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Today’s Grade</p><p><br /></p><p>1937-S&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 65 with an asterisk for PQ&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 65</p><p><br /></p><p>1941-D&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 65 with an asterisk for PQ&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 66</p><p><br /></p><p>1953&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 66 with an asterisk for PQ&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 66</p><p><br /></p><p>1956&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 65&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 65</p><p><br /></p><p>1958&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 64 with an asterisk for PQ&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 64-65</p><p><br /></p><p>Please comment on your thoughts and don’t hold back. While I take this very seriously, I am just a collector and would appreciate your input on any and everything in this thread. Post your own coins, critique my grading, point out my inaccuracies, etc…</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for viewing![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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