Newbie question of the day: I think I know the answer to this question already, but I'd like to make sure. In general, which is more desirable: A darkly toned coin with little wear, or the exact same coin with very little toning but more worn down?
There is no clear answer to your question. Show me two coins and I can choose the one that I desire more, but to make blanket statements about toning and grade is dangerous. If you forced me, I'd probably take the darkly toned coin with little wear -- but it really depends on what the coins LOOK like.
I like a lot of detail on my coins. But, I also think a dark tone on the field looks great. it gives it an awesome cameo effect. I keep a 1994 washington quarter only because it has a dark tone on the field and it looks like the exact opposite of the deep cameo proof sets. But I agree with the previous responses, though. I think it's all in the eye of the beholder.
