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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 2733615, member: 112&quot;]Valpo - we all know what you are saying, and we all agree with you. Or perhaps I should say we all understand the <u>underlying intent</u> of your words, and we all agree with that intent. But I don&#039;t think you understand my intent. </p><p><br /></p><p>By your own words you&#039;re beginner in the hobby. And what I&#039;m trying to do anyway is to help you, to teach you one of the most basic things you need to know, not argue with you. In numismatics toning and tarnish are exactly the same thing - exactly ! Yes, both words have different connotations, and I explained that early on this discussion. Toning has a positive connotation, and tarnish has a negative connotation. And it is that and that alone that decides the how, why, and when of people using the two words. But that doesn&#039;t change the fact that toning and tarnish are both the result of oxidation. And since they are both the result of oxidation they are obviously both the same thing. </p><p><br /></p><p>What you are doing is trying to use the the two words to describe the different stages of oxidation. You are using toning to describe the early stages of oxidation and tarnish to describe the late stages of oxidation. But what I think you don&#039;t understand is that <u>all toning</u>, even that which is the most pleasing to the eye, that which we find the most desirable, will eventually turn into that which you wish to call tarnish.</p><p><br /></p><p>You also need to realize that toning is a word that is used only in numismatics when one is discussing oxidation, it is only used in reference to coins. If a silver bar, or a silver spoon, or silver tableware of any kind, or silver jewelry shows oxidation, one would never say that it is toning. You say it is tarnished. But those other silver implements show the exact same colors that silver coins do. And if copper, or brass, or bronze objects show oxidation, one would never say they are toning. You would say they have tarnished. But if copper, brass, or bronze coins oxidize you would say they have toned. That&#039;s what I mean when I say toning is only used in numismatics.</p><p><br /></p><p>And people specifically use the word toning when talking about coins because to say they were tarnished would be a bad thing. And people don&#039;t want to talk about the things they love and enjoy in a bad way. So they use the word toning instead because toning, when it is attractive, is thought of as being a good thing. Even though both are exactly the same thing. Toning is used precisely because it is a psychological euphemism. And the article you quoted, that&#039;s exactly what Mike is doing in that article. And if you wish, I can get him to tell you that himself.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now I can&#039;t &quot;make&quot; you believe any of this, nobody can. You have to be willing to accept it, you have to make a conscious choice to accept it. But if you really wish to be a part of numismatics, to study and learn numismatics, you will accept it because everybody in numismatics does. It is a given, it&#039;s not even open to question. And I&#039;m only explaining all of this to you for your own benefit.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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