So I recently finished my fifth set of red Memorial cents with proofs (Dansco 8102). One is my set, one is my sons set and I made two more for two nieces. Now I have a spare fifth set and an contemplating removing all of the plastic slides and allowing them to tone. I can't decide if i am just going to allow nature to take its course with no help or close the book with manila envelopes sandwiched between the pages or by some other means. I know that some of you are going to think that this is a crazy idea, but I would love a nicely toned set to go with the red set. Any thoughts?
I like the idea. Remove the plastic slides and line the pages with napkins fom Taco Bell. Some have found that they help accelerate toning (although you never know what the toning will look like). You will also have to eat at Taco Bell to get the napkins. :eat: TC
I'm not opposed to Taco Bell by any means, those Doritos tacos rule. I would really prefer a more controlled method. I have plenty of time (I hope) to wait for the toning to be nice. This 71 is what started me thinking of doing this. My images always stink, but the blue on this is just gorgeous.
Take an album and get a sulfur source(matches or whatever), put it in hot direct sunlight(some place hot) - should start some browing type toning. Or just get MS70 - make them a little bluish and then use the sulfur and direct sunlight - that should make them interesting. You might even want to try this on one or two red coins before doing a whole set. It might take a few months, but it would be an interesting experiment.
The natural browning process will be slow. By allowing air to the album/coins, you risk the formation of verdigris. The experiment could turn quite bad.
Which method? I forgot to mention you would want them in a sealed container. Maybe just a sealed tupperware bowl with the cents. Not sure what would happen with copper cents. I do remember reading Penny Whimsy and the way it mentioned browing up some coins.
Brown is not really the color I'm going for. I did a set of proof Indian cents in the mid eighties and put them in an old Whitman album (not the folder). Many of them were nicely toned over the years before I put them into the album, but the red ones have turned into lovely shades of red, blue and yellow. I wish that I could still find those old Whitmans, but I don't think they have made them since the sixties. Even if I could find one, I doubt that they would have a memorial cent book.
Well you would really have to wait for an expert, but I do not think there is a way to create the natural colors a whitman could do. I think at times you can still find some of the older ones on ebay. I have some from the seventies - but nothing really red was placed in them. Just what ever circulated coins we could find. I know MS70 will turn the coins a bluish type color - I don't recommend it, but you can search on it and see what it does. Good luck! And keep us posted if you do any experiments.
Take it as a challenge and collect a set of red-brown cents. they are half way to the process you are looking for and usually somewhat inexpensive. Nature giveth and nature taketh away.
