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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lehigh96, post: 605295, member: 15309&quot;]I think it is a matter of perception.&nbsp; The simple fact is that the oxidation layers on a coin&#039;s surface are identical with respect to AT and NT coins.&nbsp; The only difference is how the oxidation layer formed.&nbsp; What takes nature decades to produce can be accomplished with human intervention through heat, chemicals, and atmosphere in a very short period of time.</p><p><br /></p><p>We only care about the origin of the toning because we have been told that artificial/accelerated toning is evil.&nbsp; What if the original viewpoint from the Numismatic world was one of respect and admiration of the coin doctors?&nbsp; What if the metal coin was viewed as a blank canvas for the coin doctor to create his masterpiece?&nbsp; What if the term coin doctor was replaced with coin artist?&nbsp; If these views were commonplace instead of the current stigma on AT coins, there would be no price difference, no debate, no argument, and no fear.</p><p><br /></p><p>While I understand your analogy of a Rembrandt, I don&#039;t think it is accurate.&nbsp; My guess is that an artist capable of counterfeiting a Rembrandt must have incredible skill.&nbsp; If he were to apply this skill to a blank canvas, a painting of equally incredible beauty might appear.&nbsp; The problem is that in order to reap the financial rewards of your work in the art world, you usually have to be dead.&nbsp; This is the motive behind copy cat artists that counterfeit famous works of art.&nbsp; In my coin world, the coin doctor need not copy a particular toning pattern, only create a coin with beautiful toning.&nbsp; It is our current view of AT that creates the need for the doctor to repeat market acceptable colors and patterns.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have so many coins in my collection that walk the line between AT and NT that I have come to this conclusion.&nbsp; If I can&#039;t differentiate between AT and NT when viewing the coin but recognize that the coin is beautiful despite the toning&#039;s origin, I can&#039;t bring myself to value the coin differently just because some so called expert tells me that it is AT.&nbsp; The only reason I am forced to endure this process is a financial one.&nbsp; Furthermore, I have never been able to change any other collector&#039;s mind regarding their opinion of AT &amp; NT, which tells me that it will never change.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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