how horrible is this?

[ChKy]

I think there's a difference between seeking out and accepting toning. If you try to avoid all toning then you get the situation I believe they have in Germany where coins are dipped and varnished to preserve their state. Whereas the Americans seem to have gone the other way completely.

You should not believe every fairy tale. Usually I do not dip my coins. An even & natural toning is the best thing you can have on a coin. Especially in case you own a rare date/mint mark the toning can help to judge whether the particular date or mint mark is manipulated or not.

For that purpose you must have enough experience to distinguish between natural and artificial toning.

[Peckris]

i dunno about roman silver, but arn't some roman silver coins plated?

Yes - the antoninianus (as opposed to the denarius) was often - especially among the later Emperors - silver-washed copper or bronze. But those are like Geo III fakes in that rather than toning, they show a greater or lesser degree of silver wash present.

I would say "au contraire" in that modern sets, albeit better sealed with possibly more inert plastics, etc., are still vulnerable to in-case toning and that I have seen it; I would quite imagine other members will support me in this observation.

But that's exactly what I was saying! It's the composition of the packing materials that cause the 'orrible toning, not atmospheric pollution.

I think there's a difference between seeking out and accepting toning. If you try to avoid all toning then you get the situation I believe they have in Germany where coins are dipped and varnished to preserve their state. Whereas the Americans seem to have gone the other way completely.

You should not believe every fairy tale. Usually I do not dip my coins. An even & natural toning is the best thing you can have on a coin. Especially in case you own a rare date/mint mark the toning can help to judge whether the particular date or mint mark is manipulated or not.

For that purpose you must have enough experience to distinguish between natural and artificial toning.

Agreed!

[Coinery]

I really want to buy the coin that sparked this conversation, does anyone have the link? I'm confident this is nothing other than fancy, overdone, photographic software!

I raise this point again, because my original request is slipping further down the posts unanswered! Anyone?

The original photos maneyer posted were from the cointalk website but whether linked to someone showing off their purchase, I don't know. Perhaps pm him?

Thanks for the info. I've tried to look it up on Cointalk but eventually gave in. I'll not trouble moneyer, though it would make for an interesting finale, or not, to get it out of its slab and put the pictures up here. Hey, ho!