To Tone or not To Tone, that is the question.

I remember that. I belive it was an early 2000 with nice looking peripheral toning.

 

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That coin is beautiful. Like I said before, I've never especially searched for toned coins but I do truly understand why people love them.

 

Thank you, I hope so too.

 

Just a heads up in case you didn’t know. There are people out there cooking coins in chemicals to impart dramatic toning. While some of these have a real wow factor to them, just be aware that artificially toned coins don't grade straight. It’s a relatively recent phenomenon and I don’t know if anyone really knows the long term damage that chemically cooking coins may cause.

 

I've heard about this, probably a couple years ago. One of the reasons I'd rather not take that risk I guess.

 

If this is an experiment , I would
1. rinse the coins and inside of the bottle and lid with acetone and pour out excess to remove contaminants ,
2. Use 'rubber bands" made of synthetic rubber ( neon colors usually) as rubber bands have differing amounts of sulfur.
3. Since matches do not list percentages of phosphorus or sulfur ( and which compound) I have bought pure sodium sulfide on Amazon to provide the sulfides..

One should narrow down the possible active agents as much as possible if you ever wish to repeat experiments at a later time. IMO Jim

 

I personally have no intention to use a chemical. I would prefer a naturally toned coin in a rainbow shade but am too impatient to wait a decade or half century. I’m just curious. Actually, on a loosely tied subject, chemicals... dipping silver and acetone baths, I am also curious about and yet, apprehensive. I have more than enough 1967 Canadian dimes, 2 rolls worth, which look milky, as the ones in my photo, that I’d like to test but, yeah, apprehensive I guess.

 

Variables known and unknown, yes. I have tried to keep that in mind and, in light of the response on this thread, which I figured I’d get slammed on, has been pleasant and informative and I thank you all for the input!

 

Well the majority would probably say that they are your coins and you can do what the owner wishes to them. Where you get the punch back is if the person then tries to sell them as natural or " I don't know if AT or not coins " on the market. Jim

 

If they turned out nice and someone had made an offer and asked if AT or not, I would divulge the process I used... I’m Canadian and too nice to lie, lol

 

Is AT considered AT if all that happens is the coin is intentionally exposed to a favourable environment that encourages the coin’s natural process of toning?

I’ve gone mad and set up experiment two with pennies, lol.