Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="John Burgess, post: 6341298, member: 105098"]the black is usually indicative of silver(I) sulfide (Ag2S). what would be called in the hobby, "terminal toning" of the silver.... silver oxidization. in fact someone could have done it on purpose even. Jewelers do it to silver, call it "oxidized silver" or "blackened silver" just speeding the process with chemicals to give it an antiqued look that wears in as some of the oxidization wears off. Could have been a test a jeweler was doing before doing it to their work piece. Not sure of the cause to get it to that point, the specific circumstances, or how long it took. Given enough time and the right conditions all silver coins can get to this point. I'm fairly certain just like silverware, it could be removed with a coin dip or any silver cleaner, however with toning to that extreme, it's certainly going to have damaged surfaces under it unless it hasn't been there long and was accelerated to give it that patina. it's still a 40%er though.[/QUOTE]