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<p>[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 2995120, member: 91461"]As a self professed noob, newb, nube I feel like I am always asking questions here and unsure when I should venture an answer, as I don't want to steer anybody wrong (its better to be silent and for the world to think you a fool, then to open your mouth and prove them all right<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie46" alt=":facepalm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />).</p><p><br /></p><p>Nevertheless, I want to give back and share knowledge where I can so I've done my homework and will be showing what to look out for when you feel a coin is "tool" good "tool" be true...when it's tooled that's when!</p><p><br /></p><p>"So Ryro", you may ask, "what the heck is a tooled coin anyway?"</p><p>A tooled coin is a coin that someone has used a graver or knife to restore or add detail. As well, tooled can refer to smoothing of a coins surfaces to remove scratches, corrosion or other wear. As you know, ancient coins may lay around for a while (sometimes thousands of years!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />) but things like naturally smoothed surfaces from years of circulation will cause even smoothing on both the obverse and reverse of the coin. Sometimes you will find only one side of the coin tampered or tooled. These are referred to as obv tooled or rev tooled when identified.</p><p><br /></p><p>"But Ryro", you may ask now that your interest is piqued, "what's a tooled ancient coin actually look like?"</p><p>Have no fear my CT pals! I've scoured the world wide web to show you some images of tooled coins vs ah natural.</p><p><br /></p><p>Take the always handsome Claudius for example (his own mother, Antonia, referred to him as "a monster of a man") with a Minerva reverse. You can clearly tell something is a miss just by comparing the top tooled coin with the bottom natural beauty (probably the 1st time in 2 millenniums that someone had referred to poor Claudius as a beauty). </p><p>[ATTACH=full]739846[/ATTACH] </p><p>And the beauty...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]739847[/ATTACH] </p><p>As you've probably observed coin 2 is pretty even in it's natural wear. The 1st coin however has a impressive obverse (note Claudius hair in particular) and a very worn reverse. STRANGE?! Nope. Just tooled. Or as we learned earlier obv tooled! And even the patina looks different from the obverse than the reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a Vespasian with priestly implements on the reverse that has been tooled...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]739769[/ATTACH] </p><p>And here is an unharmed one...</p><p>[ATTACH=full]739770[/ATTACH] </p><p>Note the forehead, cheek and neck of Vespasian. On the true coin you see the wrinkles and folds that the emperor had acquired running the empire...and banquet table! But on the tooled coin they've all been smoothed over. A shame. Even if to cover scratches we are still losing a precious amount of authenticity in the man's countenance. Even the eyes of the tooled coin appear squinted. Though that does play into a famous line when Vespasian, famous for the always strained look on his face, had asked a well known funny man to make a joke about him. And the funny man replied, "I will as soon as you are done going to the bathroom!"</p><p>Alright, enough picking on Vespy. </p><p><br /></p><p>So, if you are not that familiar with a coin and have doubts (or even if not) it is always good to look the coin up and compare. I recommend AC search, Wild Winds or V coins when looking for comparison. Or you can always post it here on Coin Talk, sit back and watch the knowledge roll in.</p><p><br /></p><p>I'll end with an exam by sharing one of the most famous modern tooled coins and you tell me is it the coin on the left or right that has been tooled?</p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie67" alt=":nailbiting:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]739855[/ATTACH] </p><p>And remember, tool me once shame on you. Tool me twice shame on me.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ps, please share any tooled coins, knowledge or whatever you feel may enhance this thread![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 2995120, member: 91461"]As a self professed noob, newb, nube I feel like I am always asking questions here and unsure when I should venture an answer, as I don't want to steer anybody wrong (its better to be silent and for the world to think you a fool, then to open your mouth and prove them all right:facepalm:). Nevertheless, I want to give back and share knowledge where I can so I've done my homework and will be showing what to look out for when you feel a coin is "tool" good "tool" be true...when it's tooled that's when! "So Ryro", you may ask, "what the heck is a tooled coin anyway?" A tooled coin is a coin that someone has used a graver or knife to restore or add detail. As well, tooled can refer to smoothing of a coins surfaces to remove scratches, corrosion or other wear. As you know, ancient coins may lay around for a while (sometimes thousands of years!:eek:) but things like naturally smoothed surfaces from years of circulation will cause even smoothing on both the obverse and reverse of the coin. Sometimes you will find only one side of the coin tampered or tooled. These are referred to as obv tooled or rev tooled when identified. "But Ryro", you may ask now that your interest is piqued, "what's a tooled ancient coin actually look like?" Have no fear my CT pals! I've scoured the world wide web to show you some images of tooled coins vs ah natural. Take the always handsome Claudius for example (his own mother, Antonia, referred to him as "a monster of a man") with a Minerva reverse. You can clearly tell something is a miss just by comparing the top tooled coin with the bottom natural beauty (probably the 1st time in 2 millenniums that someone had referred to poor Claudius as a beauty). [ATTACH=full]739846[/ATTACH] And the beauty... [ATTACH=full]739847[/ATTACH] As you've probably observed coin 2 is pretty even in it's natural wear. The 1st coin however has a impressive obverse (note Claudius hair in particular) and a very worn reverse. STRANGE?! Nope. Just tooled. Or as we learned earlier obv tooled! And even the patina looks different from the obverse than the reverse. Here is a Vespasian with priestly implements on the reverse that has been tooled... [ATTACH=full]739769[/ATTACH] And here is an unharmed one... [ATTACH=full]739770[/ATTACH] Note the forehead, cheek and neck of Vespasian. On the true coin you see the wrinkles and folds that the emperor had acquired running the empire...and banquet table! But on the tooled coin they've all been smoothed over. A shame. Even if to cover scratches we are still losing a precious amount of authenticity in the man's countenance. Even the eyes of the tooled coin appear squinted. Though that does play into a famous line when Vespasian, famous for the always strained look on his face, had asked a well known funny man to make a joke about him. And the funny man replied, "I will as soon as you are done going to the bathroom!" Alright, enough picking on Vespy. So, if you are not that familiar with a coin and have doubts (or even if not) it is always good to look the coin up and compare. I recommend AC search, Wild Winds or V coins when looking for comparison. Or you can always post it here on Coin Talk, sit back and watch the knowledge roll in. I'll end with an exam by sharing one of the most famous modern tooled coins and you tell me is it the coin on the left or right that has been tooled? :nailbiting: [ATTACH=full]739855[/ATTACH] And remember, tool me once shame on you. Tool me twice shame on me. Ps, please share any tooled coins, knowledge or whatever you feel may enhance this thread![/QUOTE]
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Won't get "tooled" agaaain!
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