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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 17442, member: 112&quot;]Hmmmm - I kinda wondered when we&#039;d get around to this subject. So OK - here goes my thoughts.</p><p><br /></p><p>First of all - toning, in some instances can indeed be harful to a coin. It can literally eat the surface right off the coin. Now this is not true in all cases and one needs to learn to differentiate one type of toning from another - the potentially harmful kind. </p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ll be the first to admit that I have not always found toning attractive. But over the years I did acquire a taste for it. And now - some toned coins I find absolutely drop dead gorgeous !! Others I find as ugly as a mud fence. As they say - beauty is in the eye of the beholder.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now toning comes in many shapes, colors and types. Some of it is very subltle while some is downright striking. But virtually every coin - and I do mean every coin - has a small of toning present. Quite often the untrained eye can&#039;t even see it. But any coin exposed to the air is going to tone - this is just a simple fact.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now when it to comes to grading companies agreeing to grade &amp; slab a coin - don&#039;t ever fool yourself into thinking that toning plays no part or has no effect on the grade. Because it does - quite often it has large effect on the grade. Toning can impact the grade of a coin in several ways. It can cover up marks and deffects that would otherwise be obvious. It can also be misleading when trying to judge the quality of strike for a given coin. It can cover or accentuate luster. And most of all it can have a huge impact on eye appeal. Every single one of these things is very important when determining the grade of a coin. So it does have an effect.</p><p><br /></p><p>And there is something else about toned coins and grading companies - it DOES NOT always have to be natural for the coin to be graded and slabbed. And yes I include the big 4 in this statement - NGC - PCGS - ANACS &amp; ICG. Don&#039;t believe me ? Well call &#039;em up and ask &#039;em folks. Just be sure to ask them this next part. Count on getting some uhh&#039;s and pauses.</p><p><br /></p><p>All of the major grading companies practice what is known as market grading. What this means is that all that is required for a given coin to be given a given grade - whether toned or not - is for the coin and the grade to be considered market acceptable. Now that&#039;s a term you need to remember because it has a larger impact on this hobby of ours than just about any other thing you can imagine. What market acceptable means is quite simple - it means the marketplace will accept it as is - the grade - the toning - or lack thereof. </p><p><br /></p><p>I have seen coins with my own eyes that were artificially toned and submitted to every major grading company - and returned in one of their slabs. I have also seen totally natural toned coins returned in bodybags. There is no rhyme or reason - it just depends on what they think is market acceptable. If it looks too good to be true they&#039;ll probably return it bagged. If it looks like it might be true - but there is doubt - it will lilkely be bagged. But if it looks like most folks will say - man that&#039;s gorgeous - then put that baby in a slab and mark it with a star !!</p><p><br /></p><p>There are people out there who can tone a coin - any coin - in such a way that the world&#039;s foremost expert - or a group of them - CANNOT tell it is fake. I&#039;ve watched &#039;em do it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now here&#039;s something to think about - that being the case - does it really matter ?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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