Toning coins with cardboard

So 3 or 4 years ago, I put this 2012-D cent in a flip and threw it into the bottom of a cardboard box.
It was bright orange and untoned when I had put it in. Now, the coin looks like this:



The pics don't do the toning justice. The coin is an attractive red in the center, and it turns silvery near the rim. I find this toning attractive.

Do you think there is any way to speed this toning process up?

 

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You already did. It's copper. Copper reacts with sulfur. The cardboard likely is non-archival, so it gasses off some sulfuric acid and other stuff. That accelerates the sulfuridation/oxidation processes. Mind you, speeding up the process also turns the coin brown/boring faster...

 

Speed up the process? Do you mean, "How can I AT this coin?"

Chris

 

Google a Kenner "Easy Bake Oven" if you find one that has the original brownie mix send that to me.

 

I have a 4 coin hole cardboard thing in a plastic clamshell case with 1960 p&d both small and large date Lincoln's in them that look very similar

 

As a collector of only rusted (toned) coins I after many Moons have discovered its not unusual for copper Lincolns even 2013s to tone exactly like your pixes (nice toning). I have 50 -60 rolls in my wine cellar being naturally(sic) toned.
The cardboard was bleached as most cardboard is leaving trace amounts of hydrogen Sulphide and Sulpher Dioxide in the cardboard and they are the culprits.
If you really like toners read up as much as you can as it is a seperate, distinct and under appreciated area of numismatics, at least thats my opinion.
Enjoy
M1

 

Omega, my young collector. You have the potential to be a really good at this. Don't sully it by ATing coins.We have enough jerks out there doing that already.

 

Some of the AT I've seen I've swear they've torched it or something.

 

GDJMSP,
Have you seen any of the spectrograph plots that PCGS "sniffer" displays ?? If so please tell me where I can get the pixes.
I am curious because according to my small spectrometer there is very little difference between an AT or NT toned silver coin, example tested is 1964 Washington 25c. DCAM 67.
Thanks,
M1

 

Does yours look something like this? Some shots with the clam-shell closed and open. Sorry, the lighting stinks but there's some toning going on.

 

Similar yes but probably a bit smaller since its only 4 lincolns. I'll get a pic when I have time

 

So, ... you have a wine cellar, then? Gee, around here on CT, we usually spell that "whine seller", you know?

 

Not quite sure what you mean but I spend a lot of time in the cellar watching my coins tone and sipping to boot, what a great hobby this is.!!!

 

Maybe you don't want to overdo it.
This is what happens when a silver coin is left with a piece of acidic newspaper pressed right up against it for 30 years.

Too bad, as it probably would have been a cameo.

 

I only mean our hobby has easily more "whine aficionados" than "wine aficionados", especially when one walks around an ANA show bourse asking random dealers, "So, how has the show been so far?" Then there's the guy who collects high end gold who whines about the parking rates. Really, that's your biggest concern?

 

If you notice the coins are toning differently which is normal, light yellow brown is stage 1, by the way how are the coins stored ??

 

Thanks for clearing that up which reminds me about a former C.O (3 star) with all the cash in the world who complained about the price of gold coins and really believed it was a conspiracy by the Fed to manipulate the price of gold in 1957.
This guy was very intelligent but he could not be convinced of the difference between intrinsic and numismatic.
People are just plain weird in my opinion.
By the way I grew up in Cleveland and married a girl from Latrobe.
Best beer in the East "Rock n Roll".
And I only WINE