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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Lehigh96, post: 599719, member: 15309&quot;]The original purpose for artificially toning a coin was to hide surface imperfections from the graders in order to achieve a higher grade.&nbsp; Many coins are conditional rarities where a one grade jump can result in a lot of money.&nbsp; Then the toning revolution hit and collectors began paying huge premiums for rainbow toned coins.&nbsp; This caused the coin doctors to attempt to achieve what takes nature decades to accomplish.&nbsp; Bob Campbell, who is considered one of the leading experts with regards to toning called this type 2 artificial toning.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Fortunately, there are very few coin doctors with the skill required to pull this off consistently.&nbsp; Most of the artificial coins you see on the market are obvious and the attempt is usually done on an otherwise common low to mid grade coin.&nbsp; For example, an MS63 1881-S Morgan Dollar is a prime candidate for a coin doctor.&nbsp; He can&#039;t ever drive the price below melt value and the upside could be 5X-10X-15X his cost.</p><p><br /></p><p>The best way to avoid the AT coin is to only buy toned coins that are graded by either PCGS and NGC.&nbsp; Having said that, you should also be aware that there are artificially toned coins in these holders.&nbsp; The TPG&#039;s policy is to grade coins that they deem marketplace acceptable.&nbsp; In the toning world, there are obvious NT, obvious AT, and coins that are in the middle.&nbsp; For the last group, the TPG&#039;s have to make a determination whether or not the toning is acceptable in the current market.&nbsp; Unfortunately, this allows some very good AT coins to get through.&nbsp; The key is that even the foremost experts can&#039;t say with any certainty that the coin is NT or AT.&nbsp; I consider these coins to be QT (questionably toned).&nbsp; For example, who can tell me which coins in my NGC Registry set of Jefferson Nickels were once considered marketplace acceptable but now are considered QT and would bodybag if submitted today.&nbsp; If you are really good, tell me why (Doug, please don&#039;t answer).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o59/ACPitBoss/Jefferson%20Nickel%20Registry/TheAtlanticCitySetofJeffersonNickel.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I am a big proponent of any toning that greatly enhances the eye appeal of the coin.&nbsp; I will proudly buy an AT coin if I think it is beautiful.&nbsp; My only reserve is that AT coins are considered to be an evil within the hobby.&nbsp; The stigma attached seems to be undeniably permanent and I fear that this passion to avoid AT coins at all costs leaves many collectors in perpetual fear of toned coins thereby decreasing the demand for such coins.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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