Got this from the one and only gbroke! Great looking IMO naturally toned WQ. Awesome addition to my toned quarters set
edited ; ) <just kidding there,, i have a hard time not tossing darts> try harder Yeah,, abit uncouth there. My post six pack sense of humer isn't the best. Sorry.
No more "peeing contests" regarding toning. I happen to agree with my fellow experienced collectors, Greg and Paul. The purpose of this thread was to appreciate legitimately toned NT coins, and not make it a controversy over whether coins are "home-brew toning," or of dubious market acceptability. I do think we all, as collectors, have an ethical responsibility to stay away from and not flaunt coins that we absolutely KNOW are AT--to do otherwise is to demean the hobby. Once again, Doug does make a valid point that there is no way of objectively testing to prove a coin is NT, but there are tests to detect obvious AT. If folks do wish to indulge their time and money in garish, AT coins, so be it, but IMHO it does demean the hobby, and a very selective market share of folks who love legitimately toned coins. I want to add a postscript to show that not every toning enthusiast is just flipping wads of cash over the "tarnished" coins, as they've been called. Normally, I DO NOT talk about what I paid for coins, as that is my own private business, and not anybody else's. However, just to repudiate the accusation that everybody who buys into the toned coin market throws wads of cash needlessly for coins, I shall discuss the financial aspects this time. The two Franklins that I posted a couple of days ago with the "green bean" stickers were both Gem Franklins--MS 65 and MS 66. They were in PCGS and NGC holders, and both displayed what I would call attractive market acceptable toning of the pastel variety, common in Franklins, as many of them were from albums, and toned accordingly over the years. The price I paid for BOTH together, shipped to my door was $120, which is barely over what every price guide in the world would list them for in non-toned condition--in fact, one was way "under" PCGS price guide, and in line with gray sheet prices. So, it isn't necessary to spend $1200 for a pretty toned coin that may have a normal market value of $60--although, if one chooses to spend $1200 for something that they think a work of art, it is of their volition, and complete right to do so.
Different flavors of ice cream, that's kind of the key. You call those two coins attractive and think you got a good deal. I would call them unattractive, at any price. But chocolate and vanilla is what makes the world go round
Doug, I am convinced your standards, in terms of grading and eye appeal are impossible for any real world conditions. Don't know what you like, but I don't pretend to understand. Perhaps it was my quick snapshot, but I think most toning enthusiasts would deem these attractive:
It's easy, I just have different taste than you do. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with you liking the look of those coins, nothing. But no, my likes and my standards are far from impossible, just different than yours. Those coins have mottled toning that is pretty typical for coins from original Mint Sets, or from albums. I have never found it attractive, never will. My taste in toning runs to the more colorful examples, especially with Frankies. And I have posted and or commented about them many, many, times. You just haven't been around long enough to have seen them. Especially since I quit collecting US coins before this forum even existed. But to give you some idea, here are few pics of US coins that have toning I like.
Ok, I like most of those coins also. The one that I would question being NT is the Buffalo. I would have thought that to be AT for sure.
Question: Does the speckling around "States" indicate anything...Trying to learn how to detect AT...I'm assuming this half has to be AT, just curious if the speckling is an indicator.
Toning similar to that is not all that uncommon on Buffs, definitely NT. That one was in a NGC 64 slab. What was that were saying about educated opinions ?
I would repeat the quote about opinions and what they are like, but this is a family board. Now, given my standards, I would call the Buffalo toning unattractive and the speckled toning of the Franklins attractive. Can't account for taste.