U.S. toned gold has been on a sort of vague wishlist of mine for a while now, but I don't know much about it. Are there certain series that are more prone to toning, particularly red or purple coloration? From what I've seen, it seems to be relatively more common with Indian Head half eagles and quarter eagles. And how much of a premium does attractive toning bring?
I really haven't seen too many wildly colored gold, but liberty head half eagles seem to be common enough with deep reds and orange tones. They can be found with little premium over their untoned counterparts.
I wouldn't presume to know that any one series is more likely to come toned than another. In fact my suspicion is just the opposite, that all are equally prone to toning, and that we only see a limited sampling because of the cleanings that so many are subjected to. I think when you see a nicely toned gold coin, you are privileged to be viewing a less-adulterated coin than most get to see. I have owned many nicely toned gold coins over the years, and they have elicited comments from a very appreciative, albeit small audience. It is unfortunate that most want . . . expect to see bright yellow color, and pass right over these special pieces. While I deal in both toned and un-toned gold, I'll always gravitate to the toned gold first. I still to this day regret parting with 3 particularly nice toned gold coins . . . a very original deep gold and brown 1881-O $10 Lib, a deep orange 1883-S $10 Lib - both cherry AU50 coins, and both very scarce coins. The best of the three was a common date 1907 quarter eagle with gorgeous originality . . . clean blazing lustrous surfaces under olive green, rose and orange color . . . one of the most striking coins I've ever owned . . . traded that one for a bad check back in the 1990's. Live and learn . . .
Funny you should mention. I just bought a toned $2 1/2 Indian the other day, a 1911 grade AU53. I normally only buy and collect MS graded, but liked the colors and look of this one. The toned gold I've seen has a dark look, almost a purple/black? I did pay a premium, but not huge, since it was a milder toning. I am terrible at taking pics through holders, and the toning is hard to show up, but you get the idea. edited
I see some toned gold but not a lot mostly liberty head 2.5 5 and $10 the place I see the best toned gold is in the early stuff which I just can't afford here's one I got a nice deep rich coppery gold color
Well then we have the obligatory discussion as to whether gold tones at all, or any "toning" you see are in reality only surface deposits. I am of the opinion that, short of a darkening color that could be associated with the copper toning, gold does not tone at all.
Me I think the 10% copper makes it tone at least us gold coins. Which is why some are bright yellow but others take that deep rich coppery color like the one I posted which I greatly love. Gold itself has many different colors depending on where it's mined is why there so much variation in colors of gold coins especially the early stuff
You know, my Mom had a really pretty silver plate in her house with some gorgeous toning on it, until I discovered it was not silver but stainless steel and the "toning" was really just layers of smoke deposited on it. A little soap and water and it was bright and shiny. I simply wonder how much of this "toned gold" is simply similar.
I think, like Mainebill stated, that it is the 10% copper which is actually causing the change in color. Also, i don't think exposure to smoke or other debris could be the soul reason for countless toned gold pieces.
to get a look at the color of "original" gold check out Doug Winter's site. Also, PCGS forum member "Boosibri" has a link to his set in his sigline; he has some nice toned gold. As stated above, the copper alloyed with gold is probably responsible for the toning you see. Be careful about being too enamored of toned gold as sometimes it comes from treatment with iodine, yielding a reddish/purplish color.
The gold used in classic U.S. coins is only 90% gold and the remaining 10% consists of copper and other trace metals to include silver. It is this 10% that can cause gold to exhibit different colors, especially when the alloy is not evenly distributed throughout. I wouldn't say that one series is more prone to toning, but there are certain branch minted coins during different periods that produced high levels of silver and other trace metals than take on interesting colors as a result. Here is my contribution to the thread: another Saint.
This ignores the reality of the sources of gold often used by the mint. Trace metals can very much affect the coloration of gold and subsequent toning.
Yes, that is what I was saying about the darkening being the toning of the copper in the alloy. However, when I see brightly colored toning on gold I am suspicious, unless the gold was alloyed with silver before minting. I simply feel dark toning is possible due to us seeing the copper toning, but believe bright toning is most likely surface deposits.
Here are a few I've owned in the past. All were graded by either PCGS or NGC. I'll let you all debate how "real" they are. Note that the Saint is also a 1924 just like Lehigh's above. I've seen that toning a number of times on Saints and they've all been 1924s. jom
Not a big fan of the buffaloes, they more look like they are stained. That $2 1/2 is amazing though. Do you still have it? What was the grade?
