Whats the deal with toned coins I'm thinking of buying a few but i heard that toned coins are nothing more than damaged coins that look nice could someone please help me out.
Here are a few articles for you to read. What you need to know about: The science of Toning Physics of the Toning Progression of Rainbow Morgans Sunnywood Toning Classification System People who claim that toned coins are damaged probably have very little numismatic knowledge. Furthermore, once toned coins are removed from the environment that created the toning, certified, and stored properly, the advancement of the toning will be arrested for decades, if not centuries to come.
Many who do not like toned coins call them damaged or corroded, which is a misuse of the term. Others who do like toned coins are sometimes willing to pay very high premiums for the most pleasing pieces. Perhaps there is no simple, single answer to your question.
My first time around as a collector I wanted nothing but "blast white" silver coins. Now, I buy white or toned silver...it all depends on what's aesthtically pleasing to your eye. All things being equal, a good rule of thumb is if it looks really nice to you..it will usually look that way to others.
I wouldn't pay much more than a typical coin. I admire pretty toners but they are more of an added nicety, not a priority. Tarnish and toned are two words used selectively to describe the process of oxidation. Some coins have slight reactions, others have larger ones because of the contamination source or period of time involved. In any case, I'd prefer a natural looking coin with some tarnish rather than a dipped blast white one
