how to naturally tone coins long term?

Ok right now all my coins are in a safe, some in airtights and two are graded and slabbed most others are in flips or in little bagies from the coin shop, one roll of shield pennies and two other rolls with my 2009 penny finds and the other with wheat penny finds. This safe also doubles as my personal records safe so lots of papers and folders to hold those papers. I live Central California, Kern County to be exsact. I like toned coins so does this sound like a good way for those to tone or should I change my environment, without moving obvisouly. Oh the safe is a water proof and fire proof safe.

 

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most others are in flips or in little bagies from the coin shop,


Are these SOFT coin flips, if so, long term storage is not recommended, you have no idea if they contain the PVC components that may eventually do damage your coins.

 

What do you consider "natural" toning?

The reason I ask is because on another thread, we actually discussed this issue because a video of toning coins using electricity was posted, and we got on the topic of techniques. I personally will be trying toning the coins using sulfur powder (I think I may change it to paste form) in the next few weeks, so if you want to wait around, I'll be posting results of what happened. I'm doing this to one of my favorite coins that was cleaned by a former owner, I don't advocate it for coins you'll be selling.

 

yes they are what i would assume are the soft flips if theyll do damage then i will take them immediatly, thank you.

 

mother natures finest, i did see that video and i have actually used a hot crushed hard boiled egg to tone a coin but i do mean as natural as possible without the use of chemicals,heat sources, or electricity. im 29 so i plan on keeping these coins for awhile.

 

This thread has potential....

 

People have tried many different methods to induce toning. I actually heard of someone wrapping a coin in a Taco Bell napkin and leaving it on their windowsill for a few years. TC

 

but wouldnt that be considered A/T? The chemical from the ink or sulfur from the paper sitting in the sun, it may take years but does speed it up.

 

If not naturally you can always use a butane torch..LOL

 

You are the Sensei and i am the student eager to learn all he can.

 

I don't know about a Taco napkin, but my plan is to try this:

I ordered 100g of powdered sulfur, and I plan on trying 2 different ways (one on each side of the coin). On one side, I'll put a fine layer of a paste of sulfur and vaseline to see what effect that has. The other side will be in touch directly with sulfur powder only. The coin will then be wrapped and placed on my windowsill in a room that is always in the 80s-90s. I'll monitor the coin every few days, and take some photos of the progress every week. We'll see where the project goes. Oh, and the reason why I'll try vaseline is since it's made with water and petrolatum, the water content in it should introduce some moisture into the system.

It seems that the source of toning on the coin is sulfur in the air, and I'll be checking to see if I can replicate the hydrogen-sulfide-like effect with the sulfur powder's presence. And I hope no one attacks me for doing this, I originally came up with the idea in another thread because I got a coin I've been craving for years but saw that it was cleaned to a mirror-like look that I'd like to tone down and make more natural-looking so that it doesnt painfully stick out in my collection.

If anyone has tips/advice/suggestions on how to modify the procedure above, let me know before I start :eat:

 

I really look forward to your findings, and I have no problems with you toning your coins I considered it scientific research.

 

I think you got too much going on with this thread. Everything tones in different ways, and I mean "everything.". It all depends not only on the holders but also in the area or atmospheric areas as well. If you have some coins in air-tites, certified, and some in flips they might not tone or might tone totally different from one another.

My question is: Do you care about the toning or don't mind if they tone? If you don't mind, then leave them as they are. If you don't want them to tone, protect them by keeping your coins in a cool environment or a air controlled area.

 

I tone coins by leaving then on the window sill, putting them in a single layer in an old cigar box (no cigars), that I keep in the garage during the summer and my fave is putting cents on the top of the waterheater and leaving them for months.

 

Your old cigar box, you use it because it has traces of the heavy tobacco smell in it?

 

I happen to like toning and i do know that the toning will vary. Would my safe be considered a controlled area or would it be good for toning with all the different paper inside it? Generaly the room is cool, a little warm during the summer.

 

Eventually, they will all tone but you could slow down the process if you don't want them toned by lowering the "AC" in the summer.

Andrew, you can keep toning brother but I'm sure that in the long run, you'll be the only one who likes the coins you tone.

 

Are you using Vaseline lotion? As far as I know, Vaseline Jelly is petrolatum and microcrystal waxes, with no water content, as both types of ingredients repel water.

Also be exceedingly sparing in the amount of sulfur you use in the vaseline. You are making something akin to Deller's Darkener, and search the postings ( especially by an ID of "Boss") of some of the misadventures of such. Have a lipid solvent available to remove the excess immediately if it starts to turn too dark.

On most forums, initiating such experiments is like saying " I think I will go home and cast a few spells" in Old Salem. Do search out Boss's threads and read them before you go ahead. You will see the toning police at work.

Jim

 

I found his Darkening thread and I'll be reading up on some more stuff on the forums before I start, thanks for the advice!

 

I remember a guy on the eBay coins forum put some bright Morgans wrapped in cloth into a box of wooden matches, as I recall the results were not good-- dark and blotchy.