Should I be upset?

So, the wife is the coin collector in the family. However, I'm either "awesome" or an "$#%^$", because I constantly feed into her habit (she currently has about 50 rolls of pennies, and 3 Ziploc baggies of loose coins to go through). Expect to see me a lot in the future, asking questions...

One of the things I do is buy proof sets for her (particularly this year, because of the West Point Pennies). I recently got a 1985 proof set, and a 1776 set- 85 being her birth year, and the 76 because the drummer boy quarters are what got her started in coin collecting.

The 1985 set arrived, and is beautiful. A few smudges on the case, but easily wiped off. The 1976 set however...

At first glance (since I have no real experience here), looks like the case is still sealed. But, the penny has massive corrosion, and the half dollar has what looks to be a thread or hair- all inside the plastic container.

I mean, it's only a few bucks- not even worth the hassle of returning, because she'll appreciate the coins anyway. However, the point was to get her a proof set, and this makes me suspect that it isn't an actual proof set- someone tampered, and refilled a container.

Pix attached.

 

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The Penny looks un-corroded. ACTUALLY appears to be toned. Quite nicely too. Take some more pictures of it, but a lot of people really love toned coins, and proof coins tone much easier and faster then non proof coinage.

As for the hair Honestly I have no idea, id need a closer picture. That's definitely a proof Kennedy though, and penny.

 

Toning btw is discoloration, rainbow like, reds, purples, and bright hues on the coin. It is not corrosion, and not a bad thing to have happen. In some cases toning will increase the value of a coin.

 

But toning inside the case from the mint?

I've heard of coins being toned, but not really familiar with it all... but I thought a proof set, inside the containers, wouldn't tone?

Also, how do you tell the difference between corrosion and toning?

 

Yes, they will tone naturally in the case, more often then not they tone in folders or cases instead of being loose.

Corrosion will be physical damage to the coin, toning is a change in the patina or luster of the coin.
Corrosion will leave marks, dig away at the coin, chips etc.

This image is a pretty good example of corrosion, none of those have toning. They are physically damaged, and un-cleanable.

 

This is one of my wheat pennies, it's toned quite nicely. It has a purple and red hue, instead of the normal copper coloration. However the surface of the coin is not damaged.

 

First, welcome to CT. As for the proof set, the Cent is toned and that is normal. The Kennedy Half with the hair is unfortunate but it happens. Proof is not a grade of a coin but rather how it was minted. The quality is stronger but things do get past the Mint employees.

I have several proof sets that I almost sent back due to poor quality control. So the proof set is normal.

In order to help you understand a bit more, copper is a highly reactive metal. In cents dated before 1982 they are pure copper as compared to after wards which are zinc with a very thin layer of copper coating. Easy to see the differences as zinc is a poor metal and it rots fast.

Since copper is so reactive it doesn't take much to tone them. Copper will turn various colors depending on what it has come in contact with.

Hope this helps and again, welcome.

 

You guys have been great! Thanks!

Again, expect to see me around the boards quite a bit, asking pretty new questions.. it's the wife's thing, not really mine, but I 10000% support her interest and hobby!!

The big problem is, a lot of what she knows is self-taught, or singling-taught... and her sibling is self-taught.. So, we're floundering in some ways.

Thanks again! You guys have been AWESOME

 

Post away! Just post clear photos of both sides and a closeup of the area in question. Also state what you see and be specific about your questions.

It's nice that you are supporting your wife's hobby and that you have a Willingness to learn with her.

 

It is not unusual to have the Proof cent in these sets tone. Some years are worse than others for that because of the packaging the mint used at the time. The inserts were not inert, or it might have something to do with the cleaning solutions the mint used on the coin blanks. (planchets or flans) before the coins were struck.

It's better if the cent is bright and not toned, but given the low prices for these sets, it's not a tragedy in this case.

 

“Happy wife happy life” or so some say. You’re a good enabler and welcome to CT.

 

You should encourage her to join up here and get involved. Better for her to learn first-hand than through you as an intermediary.

 

WOW!V I'm amazed that members of this group don't seem to know that toning IS corrosion. Coins darken (= tone) because the metal oxidizes, which is the same as corrosion. Coinage metal does not change color without a chemical change.

Sometimes corrosion is attractive, and we call it toning, but it's still a form of damage.

 

What I read about those bicentennial sets, is that Congress mandated vast numbers, beyond even anticipated custom, and many were damaged in poor storage. Including the silver.
They made them for two years, and skipped 1975 I believe

 

To me the term "corrosion" implies something that is detrimental and possibly negative that is going to continue to cause damage. As a collector of early copper, which seems to be implied by your avatar, I would think that you would appreciate the brown protective coating, which collectors call patina, which forms on those coins.

Were it not for that, copper would be more like zinc, and inappropriate for coinage. When the modern cent is lost in the wild, it is my understanding that it takes about a year or less for it to dissolve.

I think that linking toning with corrosion is too hash of an application of the concept. Toning can provide a protective barrier from something much worse.

 

there's been some .. interesting .. discussions of it in the past.
on silver coins the toning can look "pretty", but sooner or later it turns black and the original surface is damaged beyond "repair".

Thus at some point for buyers its "acceptable & pretty" until it becomes "avoid/unacceptable"

a couple quick search examples / discussions
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-a-terminally-toned-coin-s.325693/#post-3218388

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/dark-toning-examples-acceptable-vs-avoid.305587/#post-2902765

I don't like toned coins myself but I do like the look of nicely toned copper coins, although I would not buy one because of it's toning.

 

The mint skipped minting 1975 dated quarters, half dollars and dollars. The cent, nickel and dime were dated as usual.

So far stock piles of Bicentennial coins, those were the three piece 40% silver clad Uncirculated sets that were made in large quantities and left over. The regular Proof sets were made to fit the demand.

 

I can understand with that- my wife and I both have degrees in archaeology, but, because of where we are and went to school, very VERY little involved metal.. we learned more Native stonework and pottery than anything else.

My takeaway-
So, what I would simply categorize as "light corrosion" is, in the coin world, toning. And, depending on the individual, can either increase or decrease the preference of the coin.

Is that about right?

 

I suggested that. She won't. There are reasons, that I won't go into.

But this also let's us learn together, so I can better support her in it.

I'm also more willing/better able to dig through previous posts and threads to try to find answers.

 

No, you are getting the U.S. collectors definition of what is toning and what is corrosion. It only applies to U.S. collectors who are very picky about their coins. If your wife ever gets into medieval or ancient coins, you'll find that a coin turning black is not "terminal damage" but rather something you either enjoy or remove the toning to make it brighter again. Corrosion for us has to be a process that actually leave holes or other physical damage on the surfaces of the coins.