NGC graded this with a 'Star' designation...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1958-Franklin-Half-Dol...1QQcmdZViewItem




Thier sister company NCS slabbed this one as AT...

http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=2138&lot=1469



Notice any similarities in the toning?

Wow. They look like they were cooked in the same oven. They both seem to have the same honey-comb like pattern in the fields. I would have said AT on both for sure.

On CU, there was some pondering that the honneycomb might have been from either the top of a bunsen burner or the bottom of a skillet.

I agree thqat I would call both AT...the one NGC graded is a little prettier/better looking job to my eyes but it could just be the pic.

I noticed that right away but didn't know why it was caused. I'd assume from your post that is common with oven baked toning?

I know an numismatist who is adept at using a bunsen burner on cleaned gold coins
If not overcooked or well done most will accept them as MS

What actually is artifical toning? I have had coins in apaper envelope for 20years is this artifical?

A very insightful question. Another one with only subjective answers.

Artificial Toning, in common usage, referes to the time table involved. ALL toning requires a chemical reaction between the metal and the chemical involved. What sets artificial toning apart from "regular" or natural toning is that artificial toning takes hours, days, or sometimes weeks, to occur rather than the years for a "natural" tone.

Usually hurrying the process along, like baking or high concetration chemical treatments, are easily detected and are mostly unappealing to the eye. But some that specialize in rapid toning can take an ordinary coin of minimal numismatic value, apply an artificial tone to it, and seel it at a premium (usually misrepresenting it as a naturally toned coin).

Artificial toning is also commonly used to hide wear on a coin to push it up a few points in grade so that a coin that would grade a solid 55 or 58 can be pushed into the 61 or 63 range with artificial toning.

Hope this helps.

Yes it does thanks

I have a Silver American Eagle that has toned to a deep purple, almost black color in about a year. It has been it the darker recesses of my desk for that length of time, so my guess is the fumes from the lacquer used on the desk has toned it. Makes think of what it's done to my lungs!

So this is natural toning I guess...

It doesn't take much to tone an SAE, that is for sure. You look at them funny and they start turning colors.

Or maybe perhaps the pattern of some other flat sponge-like material that would hold plenty of goodies that would secrete some magic toning potion onto the coin?

AT coins always look nicer than the natural coloured coins... they look much more even, more perfect. Still bloody wrong though.

How you guys tell the difference i'll never know. This is why i just plain avoid all of them.

Enough of this colour already, bring back grey!

Did i mention i like the first one? Well i do.

I have a 1986 in a cardboard holder (came that way). It's starting to turn red/orange around the rims. Looks pretty nice. Should look great in about....oh......70 years