Natural or artificial toning?

[Guest]

Not sure if this is the appropriate place for this, but I have quite a few toned coins and was wondering how to tell if they are artificially toned or natural.
I have a 1955 d that I love. It has a purple/pink/blue tone.

[jcuve]

You can post toned coins here. Make sure you have the obverse and reverse posted.
Toners are always tough unless there are blatant problems. This one might be ok.

[GrumpyEd]

In theory if it wasn't sped up artificially it's NT.
The one you posted probably would pass as NT.
Is the obv toned or not? It might be from a folder if only one side is toned like that.

Sometimes past cleaning/dipping can make a coin turn wild colors. Always look close for any signs of past work.

[simonm]

I've got a few like that...pretty sure it's natural, but I am not a toning expert. Here are some colors I was able to produce artificially through different methods:

-Baked in an oven- cents will turn yellowish, and will the colors will be more dull in appearance
-Coins put in a paper bag and left in the oven for a little bit will turn reddish (the heat releases chemicals in the paper)
-Leaving a coin on a windowsill for a week or two will dull the colors (at least in my experience)
-Sulphur will turn coins a greenish hue (I put a coin in a banana peel for a day or two)
-Putting coins in shampoo for 2-3 hours will sometimes give them a rainbow toning
-Putting a harshly cleaned coin in a dark spot in a closet for a few months will help it slowly retone and partially cover up the cleaning in some cases.
-Coins in a hot pan on the stove will turn grey and/or black.

Those are all the methods I have personally done, I am sure that there are more. Either way, your coin looks like natural toning to me.
Keep up the hunt!

[pennies4pennies]

A natural tone for wheats would be a deep purple color. I have about 5 books filled with UNC wheats from the 20s and 30s and 40% of them turn to a purple color. These pictures are natural toning

[Becca]

Here is the obverse. It is also toned.

[pennies4pennies]

There is some toning. Look at the out line of his head. See how the toning does not go from rim to his head. There is a different out line color around his head. A true tone will show in all areas, changing colors sometimes but will be a even flow of color when it changes. Look at my first picture of the obv then look at yours. You will see what I am talking about. Toning happens in many different ways. I believe your toning is from body oil from years ago and then wiped down. Some of it is natural but to me most is from some handling from early years. Tones can have many different colors as you see in my pictures. But they don't stop and change to another color with out it combining into each other. This is just my opinion. Others may say different.

[pennies4pennies]

I've got a few like that...pretty sure it's natural, but I am not a toning expert. Here are some colors I was able to produce artificially through different methods:

-Baked in an oven- cents will turn yellowish, and will the colors will be more dull in appearance
-Coins put in a paper bag and left in the oven for a little bit will turn reddish (the heat releases chemicals in the paper)
-Leaving a coin on a windowsill for a week or two will dull the colors (at least in my experience)
-Sulphur will turn coins a greenish hue (I put a coin in a banana peel for a day or two)
-Putting coins in shampoo for 2-3 hours will sometimes give them a rainbow toning
-Putting a harshly cleaned coin in a dark spot in a closet for a few months will help it slowly retone and partially cover up the cleaning in some cases.
-Coins in a hot pan on the stove will turn grey and/or black.

Those are all the methods I have personally done, I am sure that there are more. Either way, your coin looks like natural toning to me.
Keep up the hunt!

been practicing Simon

[Becca]

I knew the obverse of this coin would change people's opinions(: no worries, I love the coin no matter what. I will take some more pictures of a few other coins tomorrow to see what you all think of those.

[pennies4pennies]

If you took acetone it would remove most of that off, I would keep in as it is, The color will change more in time. It's nice right now. I like it just the way it is. It has a nice color and I would put it in a 2x2 or get wild and wrap it in pcs and watch way happens

[GrumpyEd]

I believe your toning is from body oil from years ago and then wiped down.

I agree. You can also see that the coin has some wear. Notice the different color and wear on the high areas like the cheek and jaw.
The little protected area along the back of the coat and along the rim look like the areas that never had skin oil to help the toning.
I'd still call the toning NT but like I said above look for signs of past work like wiping or cleaning. Even a cleaned or wiped coin will naturally tone or re-tone.

[simonm]

been practicing Simon

I practice, but that doesn't mean I will be selling them as toned coins. I think it is important for toning enthusiasts to see what different types of AT look like, so they know to stay away in the future.

[pennies4pennies]

I'm with you simon . I would be lieing if I said I never did, We all do, in one way or another. That reminds me. I have to tell everybody what my outcome of my unc 1922 is and whats my next step, unbelievable what the pros want me to do before it gets sent in to get slab.

[coop]

I've always prefered BU coins. But a little color does draw attention.

[SuddenAdoration]

I agree with Coop, BU coins are the best in my opinion. However I do love toned coins if they have the right tone to them... I did receive a beautiful purple toned wheat cent from a very generous and kind member here It's one of my favorites. So in the end whatever you like and collect is of course special to you even if it's not a BU cent.