In ancient coin collecting, "
tooled" means that someone has artificially altered the surface of the coin by engraving, carving, or re-cutting details with a metal tool after the coin was originally struck.
This is generally done to make the coin look more attractive or valuable by enhancing worn or damaged features.
Common examples of tooling include:
Re-cutting hair strands on a
portrait.
Sharpening facial features like the eyes, nose, or beard.
Deepening letters in the
inscription.
Re-defining clothing folds or decorative elements.
Removing corrosion or scratches by carving the surrounding metal.
Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers
