Hey cointalk, I am doing a little coin toning experiment-- one, I put some coins in a jar filled with acetone, and two, I put a 2012 dime and a bu 1958 cent on the end of a roll of Wheaties. Anyone want to guess what will happen in two years?
I doubt anything will happen to the surfaces. There are coins stored in rolls for decades, and they do not tone
Should I seek for some other methods, such as putting a coin in a folder? I put some ATBQs in a folder and all have developed a lovely golden hue after 2 years. But what will happen to the ones in acetone?
Nothing until the acetone evaporates ( unless in a lab bottle) and then the surface will be slightly more reactive due to organics on the surface dissolving. Unless Doug is correct and then they will look horrible
I guess exactly nothing will happen in two years. Well, the acetone will evaporate but other than that nothing.
Long-term storage in albums, envelopes, or on windowsills. Long-term as in decades. Don't expect much in 2 years.
Toning is caused by the air and the contaminants within the air. And contrary to what many seem to think a coin being in an album, an envelope, wrapped in tissue paper, a coin roll, or whatever, has nothing to do with the coin being in direct contact with the object. It is the gasses put off by the object that causes the toning, not the direct contact with the object itself. So if you want a coin to tone all you have to do it is expose it to the air. And no, toning doesn't necessarily take a long time. Very noticeable toning can happen in days. In fact it begins the very instant after a coin is struck, and is a progressive process that never stops, it merely slows down or speeds up, depending on circumstances.
I would suggest you order this book and read about the authors experiments on toning for the coin magazines. As been said depending on the out gassing of say ammonia in a baggie with coins. It can happen in hours. It covers discussions about restoration(cleaning) of coins and toning removing toning and putting toning on coins. plus look into patina Metal working and craft term, that is what the coin hobby calls toning. There are thousands of formula's to produce patina's on metals. Some are safe some are toxic to humans and other life forms.
Very true, with the one comment that if the coin is in direct contact with the object it is that much closer to the gases and can have a slightly higher concentration of reactants. One way to speed up toning is to use a closed environment with the coin and reactive object (Plus some moisture) inside and then elevate the temperature so the reactive object outgasses more. The heat causes more outgassing and chemical reactions (the toning reactions) as a rule proceed faster at higher temperatures.
