Toning of a Coin
If you have any old, silver coins, chances are a few of them are what some would call tarnished.
Toning: Toning is corrosion, resulting from surface changes to the metal of a coin at the atomic level caused by corrosive chemical conditions, appearing as a change in color to the coin.
Coin Toning - What is Toning on a Coin?
From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide
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Coin Toning:
Real, Artificial,
In Between?
Naturally toned 1907 Barber quarter courtesy of Adrian Crane ("anaconda.rare.coins") ...
Toning
Scanners may also not see toning of a coin correctly. The 1881-S Morgan shows this slightly - the pink toning in PLURIBUS appears as almost a shadow in the scan - but this PCGS MS64 1904-O Morgan dollar shows it dramatically.
Toning On your wife's fine silver dinnerware this is known as tarnish. Judged from a numismatic standpoint the same form of oxidation takes on a more refined image, often enhancing a coin's value.
toning: the color changes that occur on coins as a result of oxidation or contamination. Sometimes toning can be ugly; often it can be quite beautiful. Beware of artificial toning.
Toning
The film or coloring on the surface of a coin caused by a chemical reaction between the coin's metal and some other substance such as the sulfur from older cardboard books, FLIPS or envelopes.
Toning:
A slow, natural and normal process by which a coin oxidises over a number of years. Blue, yellow, gold and red tonings occur. If attractive, such toning can add appreciable value to uncirculated coins.
toning The term for the color seen on many coins. There are infinite shades, hues, and pattern variations seen, the result of how, where, and how long a coin is stored.
toning - Toning results when the surface of the coin comes in contact with the air and environment. Areas of the coin turn color. It can cover just a small portion of the coin or the entire thing.
toning: some coins acquire a colored or darker tone over time due to age and the metals oxidizing or otherwise becoming tarnished.
Toning - Coloration (patination) caused by chemical reaction to the air or other materials over time.
Toning - Color acquired from chemical change on the surface.
Trade Dollar - A U.S. coin with a face value of $1 minted from 1873 through 1885 specifically for commerce in the Orient.
Toning
This is a natural discoloration of a coin's surface caused by the atmosphere over a long period of time. Toning can be very attractive. Some collectors prefer to collect coins with this feature.
Toning
The natural process where a coin's surface oxidises over a number of years due to contact with the air. Blue, yellow, gold and red tonings can occur. If attractive, toning can add value to a coin.
Treasury Bill ...
Toning - Natural patination or discoloration of a coin's surface caused by the atmoshpere over a long period of time. Toning is very attractive, and many collectors prefer coins with this feature.
Toning - The name given to what happens to the colour of a coin over time. Often silver coins will tone beautifully and show traces of blues and purples. Normally worn coins do not get a chance to tone.
Toning and Patina -To Clean or not to Clean?
Canadian 1939 1 dollar ...
Toning - A coin over a period of time will react to its environment. The metal in a coin will change colour many times to a magnificent series of hues, and this is what we call toning.
TONING
Refers to the very thin film, colouring or mellowed appearance upon the surface of a coin.
Toning
The coloring which has formed on the surface of a coin as a result of the metal's interaction with outside elements. Also see: Patina
Tooling mark ...
bag toning Coloring acquired from the bag in which a coin was stored. The cloth bags in which coins were transported contained sulfur and other reactive chemicals.
Bag toning - Coloring acquired from the bag while a coin was stored. When stored in bags for extended periods, coins in close proximity to the cloth often acquire beautiful red, yellow, blue and other colors.
Bag Toning - Coloring a coin acquires from the chemicals of the bag in which it has been stored. Depending upon the chemical exposure and proximity to the material, coloring may be blue, red, yellow or other colors. ...
holder toning Any toning acquired by a coin as a result of storage in a holder. Mainly refers to toning seen on coins stored in Wayte Raymond-type cardboard holders which contained sulfur and other reactive chemicals.
Subtle Toning and 1943 Dime Value
A positive reaction to the pleasing light pastel reds and blue toning was in the final price of this rare 1943 Mercury dime. Bidding at a David Lawrence Rare Coin Auction ended at $297.85 a very strong price.
Natural toning - Coloration resulting from chemical change on the surface during normal environmental exposure over a prolonged period.
Toning - Toning, or patina, is formed on a coin as a result of the metal interacting with the environment over time. This process is natural and can produce an array of beautiful or rustic colors as well as patterns.
Toning
Natural coloration of a coin caused by the atmosphere over a long period of time. Some collectors prefer attractively toned coins, and will pay premiums to acquire them.
Tooling ...
The toning or tarnishing of coins is an occurrence that often bothers collectors who are new to numismatics.
5 : Toning or Patina: degree of colour relating to 3 and 4.
6 : Eye Appeal: the aesthetic appeal of a coin. This condition relates to all of the above.
tab toning Term to describe the toning often seen on commemorative coins which were sold in cardboard holders with a round tab. Coins toned in these holders have a circle in the center and are said to have tab toning.
TONING
Shield and Liberty nickels were subject to: 1) acidic baths in the planchet stage; 2) foreign elements during striking (i.e. dust, oil, goop, sindering, fabrics, threads and manufacturing components); and 3) environmental agents (hand oil, ...
First, toning. Here are photographs of five coins, all approximately equal in surface preservation, strike and lustre. They are arranged from worst to best in terms of toning.
Uneven toning, usually characterized by splotchy areas of drab colors.
Motto
An inscription or phrase on a coin.
Attractive toning can often add to a coin's desirability. In the silver series, halo-like toning of iridescent hues is particularly desirable and is usually caused by the storage of coins in cardboard album pages of the old-style, ...
The reverse toning is interesting for another reason. Unlike with the obverse, the periphery is darkened in straight lines and without color (the center of the reverse has the same blue and pink undertones as the obverse).
Artificial Toning - The process of artificially, ehancing a coins color or look through chemical or extreme heat/cold means. Typically a bluish or dark brown color. Many times toned coins are spotty.
[See Slab] Applied Toning First employed by the author when describing "artificially" toned coins for Superior Stamp and Coin (an A-Mark Company) auction.
R1940* 1723 Caracalla: AR 20 Denarius
$85.00
Obv. IMP CAES M AVR ANTONIN AVG Laur. bust r.
Rev. PONTIFEX TR P II Emperor in military dress l.
3.39 g
Sear 1940v; RIC 27 uneven toning, oth. nearly EF ...
AT / Artificial Toning
Coloring applied to the surface of a coin, either by chemicals and/or heat, for the purpose of hiding hairlines and other flaws or to resemble the natural oxidation process that can increase a coin's desirability.
The coin apparently was found with the silver toned completely black and was partially cleaned, with the original silver sulfide toning visible as ugly black splotches in the recesses and corrosion pits.
toning - Shading of color on coins. Toning can be in many forms from dark or brown to various shade of other colors. It can cover the whole coin or more often part of the coin.
* Remember that even if you have an MS-69, authenticity, toning, cleaning, and sharpness or weakness in strike all determine a coin value despite the grade.
* Don't be afraid to buy lower-graded coins, since grading is not an exact science.
Pale toning over lustrous surfaces. Variety with only the L in LIBERTY visible, again in the die. Different from the preceding, and well described in the literature; on the reverse the date logotype is particularly deeply impressed I 1874.
Chlorauric acid is used in photography for toning the silver image.
Gold(III) chloride is used as a catalyst in organic chemistry. It is also the usual starting point for making other gold compounds.
As part of a collection I once purchased a 1935 dollar with extremely clean surfaces and just about the ugliest toning you can imagine. I'm certain if sent to a grading service today the coin would be given a MS-65 or MS-66 grade.
The coin has no patina but has been polished (note fine scratches) long ago and is retoning. Details of the metal alloy are revealed. Combining two or more metals produces different mixtures according to the metals and proportions used.
Haphazardly stored coins tend to have a "dirty" appearance to the toning. Coins that have lived for a long time in a coin cabinet tend to have spectacular coloured toning.
There are two schools of thought about toning. Most experienced collectors prefer toned silver coins and will pay a premium for attractively toned examples, but some collectors, especially inexperienced ones, prefer bright and shiny silver coins.
By this time the coins had mostly acquired beautiful iridescent purple toning and were advertised as such in their monthly ads in The Numismatist throughout the 1940's and 1950's. Today these purple toned beauties are very tough to find.
This deliberate artificial toning will not adhere to the abraded surface of a cleaned coin in the same way that it would to the original coin metal. The artificial toning will lack depth and the colors may appear to be "painted" or applied by crayons.
I do not like toning. But, I understand others do. And I understand that each person can have an individual taste. But folks, I have seen some ugly dark coins in auctions that say, "Beautifully Toned". Make sure you know what you are buying.
A nice golden toning over much underlining luster. Good for a date and mint Uncirculated set. This is a difficult date. Breen notes that most "S" mint coins were "softly struck" and "full heads are scarce.
The scan should be in RGB mode - I personally prefer color, rather than black and white images of coins, as even on a silver coin a little bit of toning that shows in the scan gives the image more character than would otherwise be seen.
Tarnish (or toning) is normal on silver and copper coins and happens naturally over time. Most attempts to remove toning usually end up harming the coin and reduces their value significantly.
Just like your good silverware, old coins (especially silver) may acquire a thin layer of colorful toning or blackish tarnish. Sophisticated collectors and investors often pay substantial premiums for coins with beautiful toning.
Silver darkens with age, which is referred to as toning. Thick black silver oxides, similar to patina, can develop in areas on a coin or cover it entirely. This is called horn silver.
On the other hand, a nice patina can be artificially applied - and then be called "lovely old cabinet toning." It is quite a dilemma. I learned just to buy the coins I liked and to shrug off all the other concerns.
 See also: Coin, Mint, Grade, Silver, Collector
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