Here is one of the most beautiful toned coins of my German States Collection. I'm always curious to the fact that almost none of the European coins have such astonishing tones (monster tones and rainbow...) like the US coins. Its a commemorative 5 Mark coin, with a mintage of 100.000 in circulating strike (250 ex. in Proof), issued on the death of King Albert of Saxony in 1902.
It is well known that the glorious air of Freedom includes rare elements that have the effect of of tarnishing silver in various unusual colours. Since Europeans are groaning under the rule of Royalty and Socialists, that Freedom toning does not exist in Europe. On a more unlikely note, it is possible that since European collectors do not generally attach any significant value to tarnished coins, no one spends any time thinking up ways to produce said tarnished coins to satisfy market demand that does not exist. In other words, if 'toned' coins are what you want, that's what you'll get.
European coins are also cleaned even more widely than U.S. coins, which would partially account for the paucity of attractively toned coins. That being said, there are some series of European coins that are more prone to rainbow toning.
I also do believe that European coins tend to be cleaned more often then US ones. For example in the 60/70's in Portugal there was a common practice were not only were they cleaned but were also abrasively cleaned with fine wire brushes, causing mostly hairlines. Every time I find a scarce coin with that sort of "cleaning" I almost drop a tear. Nevertheless these monster rainbow toning that are seen in US coins...its just odd that they are not seen, in most cases... as Artificial Toning.
The "love affair" with toned coins in the USA is a rather recent phenomenon. I have toned coins that have been purchased from Europe, and others that have been in USA TPG holders long before the "toning premium" existed. I think a more likely explanation is that people tend to want to photograph coins with attractive color. Thus, the sampling of coins you see posted on coin forums are "biased" in the distribution of toning towards those that are highly attractive. I mean, if I'm given the chance to "show off" a coin and I have a blast-white dipped/stripped example and lovely example with original skin and tone -- I'm posting the toned one.
and boy oh boy do your coins look lovely to me. If you were in Europe, i would send out a few of my coins to you for a REAL photographic session.
Depending on your interest in photography and your willingness to spend time learning, I'd be happy to "walk you through" the process to get quality images. That coin you posted above looks absolutely stellar, and I'm SURE it looks wonderful in hand. Shoot me a private message (PM) if you would like to discuss more.
I think you have something there...when we visited Paris France when I was little we stayed at a Hotel called the "Playboy Hotel" and I noticed that in the lobby there was a gentleman that had a glass jar of freshly shined Francs he was passing to the guests that were staying there. I asked my father why he was doing that and I remember my Dad telling me that "that's what they do in "Europe, they shine up their coins". That stuck with me since then.