Yes, a source of fervid debate. I am afraid 'nice toning' on a medal is simply 'dirty'. Anyone who thinks that patina is a guarantee of authenticity is missing something.
Recently I was in the RAF Museum at Hendon and if you want to see how 'nice toning' and 'original ribbons' can rapidly look dirty, forgotten and forlorn, go look in the cases of the Battle of Britain aircrew. To the other side of the coin, I am sure none of us wants our metallic objects to go to 'Guardsman polished'. It's a matter of degree.
On the other extreme, I have to turn my head to stop me from screaming when I pass through the 'collectors' market' in Covent Garden of a Monday where a dealer sells - amongst other things - WW2 British military compasses. All lovingly stripped back to retina-searing polished brass. Now that is the very definition of 'over-restored'.
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