Regarding toned coins...Just found this 3 cent silver I bought at least 30+ years ago. Has been sitting in a plastic holder and has never been out in all these years. Don't remember it being toned this dark. Could it have been the plastic holder?
Very very likely and hopefully the plastic holder did not contain PVC or the coin could be essentially ruined. Do you see any green on the coin or does it smell like a shower curtain? Good Luck!
Pretty dramatic. I lived in Edmonton, Alberta several years ago. There are a lot of oil refineries in the area which meant some days you could smell sulfer in the air. Any silver, cutlery, jewelry etc. would start to darken and would have to be cleaned. I don't know if that's the case with your coin. It may have been the storage method as you suggest.
no green or smell....was in a holder that other silver coins were in...they are not dark like this...maybe it has always been like this...i have not looked at this coin in at least 20 years.
Normal toning for the grade and time. So much depends on humidity and environmental gases. Good thing lungs aren't lined with silver. Jim
I agree with Leadfoot. I have rarely seen these not dipped at least once because the silver seems to be a little more reactive than most coins, I have no idea why. Maybe its the size. I haven't checked mine in 20 years, but I had a dipped one and would not be surprised to see it retoned.
Well it needs dipped, or at the least stored very carefully. For if that toning is allowed to continue any longer it will turn to corrosion and start eating away at the coin. It may have already.
Doug is right as usual. Remember that toning when light can be pretty, it is always a chemical reaction that is physically degrading your coin. A coin that black has already been damaged on the surface, and if it doesn't stop will eat further. Did you store this will moisture absorber in the safe? Was there any sulphur source anywhere? If it helps, I always store some bright, shiny silver and copper coins uncovered in my safe. My theory is they will "take the hit" and tone before any of my protected coins would, along with moisture absorber. Not sure if it works, but I put some more shiny ones in there every few years since the others tone. I just use modern cents and silver rounds, that way I do not care if they tone or not.
I agree with all of the above; however, if you don't have any experience with dipping CORRECTLY then I'd send it to NCS for conservation.
