I have been collecting the proof set s for some time and I decided to take a gander through them. I noticed that the 2000 state quarters from the proof set box have a definite blue toning to them. The other coins (cent, nickel, etc.) are fine with no toning. All my other proof sets have no signs of toning. Why would this one be doing this? Does this degrade the value of the set? Should I consider getting another set to replace them? Concerned, Acer0001
Looks like they might have been stored improperly. How did you store it? Did you have it near any heat or humidity? Phoenix
I have kept them up on a shelf away from heat. I have a silca pack (from some electronics I received) in the box, hopefully sucking up humidity. The funny thing is that the other coins in that same proof set are fine and 15 other years of proof sets in the same box are fine as well. This is why I am wondering why these only. It's also weird that the toning on the obverse is around the edges and the toning on the reverse is in the middle. Should I replace them? Acer0001
Depending on how that quarter set looks in hand, some people might actually pay more. I sure would like to see some better pictures, I bet those bad boys look snazzy!
Don't forget that silica gel packs become saturated and have to be regenerated (by heating in an oven) periodically. How long they last depends on their size and the ambient conditions. I have dessicant canisters with indicators and I found that over the summer, I had to regenerate them every couple of weeks and that was even though they were stored in a plastic storage container. Also keep in mind that the silica gel packs that come with consumer electronics tend to be very small and get saturated quickly. You can buy much larger ones from coin supply dealers. They're not expensive so you can buy a large number of them. If you put the proof sets into ziplock storage bags with a dessicant pack they'll be protected from humidity for a much longer period of time without having to change the dessicant packs. That method also allows you to look at the coins without exposing them to the air.
it looks blue... which is awesome IMO... more pics! edit: i made this thread a while back as well: http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=27096
If the coins are colored when tilted into the light, they could be worth a premium, but if the toning is merely hazing and not colored then it would likely hurt the value....Mike
Furthermore, from the photos and my experience, I'll wager it is hazing, not colored toning. But I hope that I'm wrong!!!
I was wondering - can haze turn to colored toning? I seem to recall some hazy coins that went blueish. (I also have a proof half that is hazed to the pojt it looks frosted - not a nice effect).
They look good. Better turning blue than black. I'd let them continue to tone and see what you get. You can always get another set for about $20. Bruce
I did look on Ebay and they are around $20, so I think I will let them go and see if they continue to tone. It's just so weired that no other proof sets have done this, even the ones in the same box! Acer0001
It's not weird if you understand what causes haze to begin with - improper rinsing after washing by the mint. So it happens to some and not to others.
Hello from Beijing - Just a little way from home this week but cannot sleep so here I am at 2am reading cointalk Doug if what you say is true I would would not expect that all coins would be hazing the same? I would have thought that One coin as part of a group of blanks used with a specific die would have hazed? I would not think they run all of the different quaters at the same time? How even the change looks on each I would have thought it looked more like toning? If it is toning, I bet they look very nice! Hope it works out!!! Best Regards Darryl
Thanks, So it looks like it was a very-very broad experiment which would affect all of the coins minted during this period of time at the mint. Introducing new processes/chemicals into the production of coins is apparently very risky and sometimes costly. Thanks again for the reading - did not help the sleep issue so it must have been informative :bow: - Lesson is - Check those sets carefully before you buy!!!
Very attractive tone/haze. Personally I prefer coins with a slight haze to ones in brilliant state (this is obvious in the german side of my collection !), but almost everyone I know disagrees with me !
