Rainbow Toning

[drivinbysand]

Hello All,

I have a 1836 Capped Bust .50 Cent Piece. The coin has rainbow toning all around the outer edge/rim on the obverse and reverse of coin. Is this normal? If not, what could have caused it? Coin has great detail except for a scratch across the cheek of Liberty. I know it is the Lettered Edge variety. In this condition what could the coin be worth?

Thank You,
Drivinbysand

[Daniel]

I am not sure this toning is natural, if it is then it's going to be album toning. Since the coin is scratched and looks to be AU50 then it's worth a couple hundred dollars and another hundred if it was slabbed and graded by PCGS. It's still a nice coin.

[Paul]

hey c,
nice kion...
interesting colors....do you know what this was 'stored in'?
remember, years ago, collectors used 'sulfur rags' to clean coins. just having a slight 'residue' on your fingers from these rags, then handling coins, not using the 'rag' on them (like this one), would leave trace amounts on the coins....then placed in a small paper flip envelope, or a non-pvc free flip......so on.....usually give them a funky color & pattern (on silvers).
what does the outside of the rim look like?....darker where it would be in continuous contact with the cardboard in an album....?

p

[drivinbysand]

I'VE ALWAYS KEPT IT IN A CARDBOARD MYLAR FLIP,I'VE HAD COIN A COUPLE OF YRS. BEFORE THAT I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

[Paul]

c,
you bought a scope, didn't you?

[cableman]

I had some coins stored in those manilla envelopes which is how it came from Littleton Coin Co. about 10 years ago.I recently sent it to anacs for grading and it is an 1878 7tf Vam-190 Morgan and came back as artificially toned with ms60 details.I thought it was at least an ms63 coin.I thought it would be ok to store it as I received it but I guess not as it is not considered "natural toning".You would think a reputable coin selling company would deliver coins in a safe storing material???? This toning on the half looks like that kind of toning possibly.PCGS probably wouldn't grade this as they would consider it damaged.

[cableman]

Here's a pic of the Morgan I mentioned.Although it can't be seen to well in these scans it has the similar bluish toning around the rims.

[dipper13]

This is B S!!! I believe that to get the equal billing with NGC and PCGS, they are trashing good coins. They have already told me "this is our professional opinion." Look at what NGC did with 2 of my coins "detailed" by ANACS.( 20 cent pieces) They are not the final answer. That coin looks spectacular, perhaps that is why they are bailing. That coin is N O T MS 60!!!!!!

[Daniel]

Unless those are scratches on the reverse or there's something I can't see in the images this Morgan Dollar is naturally toned and is at least MS63. However, the toning on this Morgan is not the same as on the Capped Half.

[cableman]

They are not scratches on the reverse just differences in the toning.The pics also appear darker than they actually are.Yes I agree the toning is different.I was referring to the bluish tone around the rims that is similar on both coins.I also thought it was at least a 63.I also think that any coin with a so called problem,ie cleaned,unnatural tone,ect,is given the "ms60 details" tag that is unc.It could be a 65 and get this tag I think.