Do gold coins tone?

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Doug, Are we older folks supposed to remember that you posted earlier in the thread in reference to a particular type of gold coin and didn't subsequently refer to it in your later post?:goof:

 

You are 100% correct my friend. :thumb:

 

They can list it as anything they want... that don't make it so. There's no such thing as absolutely pure gold coins, even today... and certainly not with older technologies. So yes, I agree... horse puckey.

I have agreed that gold can react... though the undeniable fact is it reacts slowly, rarely, or not at all.

It's reasonable to suggest that there are surface issues (impurities, oils, atmospheric contaminants) which in part cause the color shift on gold coins. It's reasonable to consider that some of the toning color comes from a reaction with something other than gold.

All agree that gold coins - even .9999 fine coins - can have some toning. Empirical evidence trumps theory, and the evidence is clear - gold coins exhibit toning. Seems like we're in agreement, not conflict.

 

That's true, there are no coins that are 100% gold...even the .9999 fine one's have impurities. But, it's not the impurities that are causing the toning seen even in those .9999 fine coins...it's the gold. So, what difference does it make if there are a tiny bit of impurity.

No theory states that gold is nonreactive, only that it is less reactive than most other metals.

 

Just so y'all know, this pic is the closest to what the coin I came across actually looks like. Similar but definitely no cigar. I really wish I still had enough money as the coin I'm talking about actually has an error on it. Also the gent told me he would knock off $75 dollars so it would bring it down to $250, not too bad for a gold american indian eagle with bezel. Whether the error is post mint damage or an actual error done when it was minted, I don't know.

Although this coin looks similar, the toning on the coin that I was looking at looked more like spray paint than toning, just like I had previously mentioned. I looked at all the Google images that I could find but I still couldn't find one that looked the same as the one that I'm talking about.

Could be that it was toning, then someone dipped it and then it has re-toned again. I don't know but I certainly appreciate the free education I'm getting on this forum, it certainly helps me alot.

It's a bit funny b/c the day I was talking to the gent at the store he was gonna let me buy it on layaway. Now with the gold prices going up, who knows. :hail:

 

The reason is bothers me is because I know alot of these quarter eagles are semi PL, it's how they were made. I know crustycoins is a specialist in classic head gold...

So when someone tells me the reason of it's reflectiveness is because it's cleaned, not because of how it was made (Which is what I suspect it is why)
it bothers me.

I also want to say I do think it is orgininal because I have poured through the heritage auction archives, and looked at MANY certified classic quarter eagles. Alot of them have semi PL surfaces just like this one, that are in problem free slabs. I can see why you may think it's been dipped/cleaned but alot of other ones have this and they are not...it's just how they were made. I'm going with mark here..

I want it to be an original coin and I like it alot, and I think it is, but after 4+ people on online forums tell me it looks cleaned, it gets to me. I've shown it to knowledgeable dealers in hand as well, of which none have said it's been cleaned. So it must be the photographs..

I love the coin and it is by far my favorite coin....

Here's a picture of it in it's slab:

 

Not the Chemistry in our school system.
Gold is absolutely NOT INERT. Inert elements have completed outer shell electron systems so they can not do anything. Gold has 1 Electron in the outer shell. This is why, as I keep saying, pure Gold WILL combine with many other substances. And as to Oxydation. Just look up the word Gold Salts. Au2O3 is a stable, Red/Brown substance that decomposes at 160degrees C. Also, it combines with Sulfur, Bromine, Chlorine, etc., etc., etc. If you have a coin that is 1,000,000% pure Gold, it can and will tarnish.

 

Man I love that coin :high5:

 

Just found this thread, and had to throw in my 2 cents (or $5 dollars ). Yes, gold tones...

 

not pure gold

 

Um, we kind of already know that....

 

Only commenting to get up to 200 messages

 

Ah. Let me help.