Toning... fake or real.

What are some the ways people fake toning. I've heard putting a coin near a potato would cause it to tone.
Is this a a probable fake toning?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1893-Columb...Individual&hash=item1e6bd371a5#ht_2302wt_1398

 

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It could not be more fake.

 

All toning is real. The question should actually be if it is natural or artificial. In this case not only is it obvious that it is artificial, but the seller even tells you. The abbreviation "AT" means artificial toning.

 

It seems clear that the purists here HATE artificial toning. There seem to be a lot of them out there though and many are even honestly advertised like above.

Do these AT coins have a large market and sell at a premium? Does anyone here like them?

 

Coin Collecting is as much about the "story" as it is the "coin".

The better the story, the better the price.

However, some of these stories get pretty old pretty quick and the AT vs NT story has gotten old. Coins tone. Thats an established fact. Coins can be AT'ed in such a manner as to avoid detection. Either through accelerated means (storing silver in a box of matches in a warm environment) or improper storage means (Coins in Waite-Raymond albums in a warm environment).

As long as its not a chemical paint, who really cares? I know that I don;t.

 

Ahh.. that's what AT means...thanks.

 

I think the people who would like this severe toning would be the same people that like the painted ASE and Morgans.

 

Here is a lesson in how threads such as this can quickly get out of hand.

How to Tone Coins

 

Note that the auction description labels this as "AT", and describes it as a "fairly inexpensive alternative to graded coins" -- neatly dodging the point that a coin like this will never make it into a slab under today's TPG policies.

Wonder if eBay will ever try to ban artificially-toned coins, as they tried to ban copies...

 

This seller has been around for a long time on ebay. Recently (a few months or so ago) ebay forced him to label his coins AT. Just an fyi.

 

Huh. So why haven't they gotten to "melthelegend123"/"mel-ko"/"that lady with the purple crayon coins"?

 

That is a very good question. Not sure why they singled out cwbyup. I had an email exchange with him, that is why I know this.

 

All this guys coins are AT. They all have the same coloring & are all toned!!! He's a coin artist. But he gets lots of buyers it seems. Some buyers enjoy that look & some just are not aware of the coloring.

 

There are several ways to AT a coin. But when a seller has multiple coins all toned the same way you know its AT. And there has been many debates on AT and NT, I think some collectors just like the color whether its NT or not.

 

at least this seller is finally admitting his coins are AT. that's a big step up

 

Here's another seller with the same crayon box, and no mention of AT in the description.

 

I paid my "initiation dues" with this joker. Unfortunately, I made a purchase from him before he was forced to put the "disclaimer" on each of his coin listings. I sent the coin I purchased from him for professional grading and, of course, it came back as "genuine" (due to questionable toning). I called him on it. . . . And he denied ATing his coins.

Even with the subsequent "disclaimer" in each of his listings, the problem I have is that the disclaimer is buried and I would guess most buyers never even notice it (which is likely just the way he likes it).

IMO, it's too bad that ebay allows him to get away with what I believe is deception.

 

He was forced to admit it, or be suspended from Ebay as many folks complained, who were knowledgeable collectors.

 

Here is another rather dubious looking Morgan--doubt that any natural reaction caused this rainbow:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TONED-1897-..._Individual&hash=item1e6f1cd11c#ht_526wt_1413

 

That one is easy... he admits to toning in the description.