How to remove artificial toning on coins especially silver?

Hey all!

I’m getting ready to buy a few coins from a gentlemen and he tones his coins for some reason, even though I’ve preached the chore multiple times. It hasn’t bothered me much because I just got some coins to fill book spots nothing special or high dollar amount. He does have a high grade 1932-D I’d say mid MS but for the love of god he did that crazy toning in the obverse. I’ve had some garbage coins before that were toned liked this and I played with them by rubbing my fingers on them slightly and it would remove the color, I will not be attempting that on this quarter though. I can only imagine if the colors rubs off that easy is there any chance acetone baths or some other technique that would remove this without rubbing or causing it to get details if graded?

thanks for any advice!

 

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Sometimes the toning will just fade off.
or soak it in acetone.

 

I’ll have to give that a go then, can’t believe some people do that especially to coins if that rarity!

 

I caution you on 2 accounts...1 dont buy problem coins to flip! A problem coin is a personal choice "something you can live with" , posting here that you buy,and try to fix...ah...not a good move! 2 Acetone works great!!!! However the time you may need to soak off any unwanted color...may also soak off any luster....left on its surface.
A word to the wise......ya know

 

Not on tarnish

 

Acetone will soak off the luster?

 

Acetone is a solvent and does not react with the metal surfaces of a coin. It WILL NOT remove toning and it WILL NOT affect luster (caused by microscopic flow lines)

You can remove tarnish by using one of the various types of chemical dips BUT unless you have a lot of of experience (and some chemistry and metallurgy background helps) you are almost guaranteed to screw it up reduce the value. Think of it this way, if your classic Corvette needs some body work and paint, do you want to do it yourself (there are some great videos on you tube that can teach you) or to you let an experienced professional do it

 

maybe it's a problem coin to begin with though and why he's toning them. No idea what he's done to artificially tone them but if you can get his method their might be a way to clear it without doing damage.

heat, sulfur, anodization? what's his poison? if he tones and re-tones until he likes the result, it's almost a certainty the surfaces are damaged.

 

Out of curiosity, was the seller Central Florida Coin Auctions out of Casselberry, FL? That auction house sells what appear to be fairly high grade coins in NNC slabs, but often with what appears to be fake album toning on the obverse side of coins. The seller also mixes in some PCGS slabbed high quality coins, too, so I follow the seller's auctions. Link to one of seller's past auctions: https://centralfloridacoinauctions....-200-classic-gold--silver-dollars--and-more-/

 

Sigh.....

 

Doubtful. It will be detected.

 

The real solution is not to by coins from this person.

 

just saying if it's the 1932 D that's got your interest, and you get it for a serious steal well lower than Mint state cost, might be worth messing with it, but just know, you are very likely buying a details coin, not a straight grade MS coin regardless of what you do or don't do to it.

Personally, no mater how it might appear with the artificial toning, I'd consider it as an AU coin, and then Details and work it down from there. No different than a polished 1932 D. it's a problem coin and going to be a tough sell for you down the road, so why pay retail or even wholesale for it? I wouldn't be a buyer for it, too many details coins out there to choose from already for cheap prices and I certainly wouldn't pay a toning premium from someone known to me to artificially tone stuff.

You should also be very certain it's not a fake as the starting point though. there's a lot of counterfeits out there also, a problem in and of itself that affects the selling price of raw 1932 Ds.

 

Artificial toning is usually done to hide something. If the guy just does it to make his coins look pretty there has to be more to the story.

 

Why not wait for another 1932-D?
I wish I had photos because my mind is bringing me to an absurd blue coin.

be safe and buy from reliable people when you can. However - even dealers I hate sometimes have goodies I consider purchasing.

 

If the toning is done by torch or fire, it will most likely not come off. It could deteriorate with time but unfortunately the damage has already been done!

 

I’ve never done anything more then acetone on silver coins so I don’t ever try to fix a coin unless it can be fixed with this method.

 

I don’t think I’d ever do anything more then some acetone baths, I’ve heard of other techniques that I will never attempt myself but if there’s any other easy trucks like acetone I wouldn’t mind trying it on a junk coin first before trying it elsewhere.

 

He does it with chemicals I guess just like the goofy bright colored ones you see on eBay being sold that are definitely not natural.