I have really been getting into coin collecting now, and I am enjoying it very much, I have been reading about and trying to wrap my head around toning. At first, my thoughts were that the most attractive coins were the bright coins which retained their luster and look new or close to new, however, after seeing a few coins with some very pretty toning and even finding one of my own with just a lilttle and seeing the way it makes the coins look, I am starting to really like it. So my question is, what causes toning? I have not found any clear cut answer as to what causes toning and why it seems to not happen to coins in circulation. I have been reading my newly aquired "Red Book" but not found the answer as of yet. I will greatly appreciate any input, and I would like to also say that I greatly appreciate the welcoming attitude of everyone here and how willing to answer questions and give out advice, information, and thoughts on anything I have posted. I am enjoying coin collecting and much of that is due to to information and help i have recieved from people on here. Thank You Kyle
The single best thread on the subject of toning is linked below. Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t84670/#ixzz1vK6wnCfC
Hello Kyle, Copper and Silver are fairly reactive metals. And they will naturally oxidize or tone over time. Most of the older bright white (for silver) coins have been dipped to remove toning to keep them bright. Some of the most colorful toning has occurred with coins have been exposed to traces of sulfur. Sulfur was used in trace amounts in old coin bags (that were used to store Morgan Silver Dollars in bank vaults) ... so Morgan Dollars have some of the best and most vivid toning around. Other ways coins were exposed to sulfur was through old US Govt Issue Cardboard Mint Set Holders in the 1940's and 1950's (through 1958 I believe). Another way was through old cardboard coin albums (esp those made previous to the 1960's. Another way is through old 2x2 coin envelopes. Some Proof coins Prior to 1936 were exposed to sulfur through tissue paper which the mint wrapped Proof coin before mailing out. This led to some really wild colors to develop on Matte Proof Lincolns (See http://100greatestmatteprooflincolns.com/) ... Toning on Mirror Proof Lincolns is less well researched, but due to the abundance of wild toning on Proof Lincolns dated 1961 (See http://100greatestmirrorprooflincolns.com/) that I think toning developed due to trace impurities in the copper. I have actually seen a number of 1961 Lincoln Proofs toning to wild colors INSIDE the sealed US Govt Cellophane packs. So you can see there are a number of ways coins can tone ... all you need really is TIME and the right alchemy. One last note, if you like toning, you should stick with PCGS graded (or NGC graded) coins since they both make some effort to separate "natural" or "market acceptible" toning vs "artificial" toning (or that produced on PURPOSE by "coin cookers"). Artificially toned coins are practically valueless, while coin which PCGS or NGC categorize as Natural or Market Acceptible can sell for HUGE premiums over the Guide Prices. So be CAREFUL when buying raw toned coins (many are probably AT'd and nearly valueless). By the way, I am not saying that PCGS or NGC cannot make a mistake, I have seen some coins slabbed by both companies that I thought were clearly AT'd ... but if they are slabbed, they are much easier to sell (for more money). If you wanted to dip your toe into the toning world, I would recommend you start with PCGS or NGC slabbed Morgan Silver Dollars since there are SO MANY pretty examples that you could buy for less than $200 (and some under $100). Another good way to dip your toe in is with Mint State coins (of all denominations) from the late 1950's (1956 through 1958 esp.), they can be found even cheaper and can often be very striking and beautiful. Also keep your eye out on Proofs, as they sometimes develop really beautiful colors, and the mirrored surfaces really accentuate the color. Good Luck!
Super article and great responses! I was going to chime in, but y'all covered the territory far better than I could have done so. To address the "white" versus "toned" in terms of desirability, that is purely a matter of taste. Some folks prefer their coins blazing, bright, and incredibly shiny. Others love the natural toning, and will pay huge premiums for beautiful color. It is purely taste in that regard--I have loved BOTH kinds of coins over the years. Winged made a HUGE point about collecting toned coins, and spending money for them--they MUST be slabbed by either PCGS or NGC, if one is to spend the kind of funds that toning commands, to have some assurance that the toning is natural, versus artificial "coin doctor created" toning.
