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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;fagaly, post: 761921, member: 22003&quot;]<b>blast white</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I may be wrong, but the two biggest causes of toning are oxygen and sulfur. Sulfur is especially nasty on silver. While an extremely thin sulfur coating can cause nice toning (I have a gold toned seated lib quarter that is a result of sulfur), continued exposure to a sulfur bearing environment can really darken a coin (another example is am AU-58 1877 Trade dollar I have that looks solid grey)</p><p><br /></p><p>The only way <i>really</i> old coins can be kept from toning is to hermetically seal them, preferably with desiccant or copper powder sealed inside. The ideal way would be to place them in either a vacuum or inert gas (neon would be best, but helium or argon would work). </p><p>I can&#039;t remember where I heard this, but supposedly one of the class manufacturers early in the 19th century placed some silver coins inside a glass tube and sealed (fired?) it shut. Supposedly the coins are still brilliantly reflective and look like something you&#039;d see in a brand new mint set.</p><p><br /></p><p>Merry Christmas to all of you-an amazing collection of avid and helpful collectors :hail:</p><p>Bob[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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