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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 2004054, member: 112&quot;]Several things mentioned so far are kinda sorta true but not really, or partially true.</p><p><br /></p><p>Carbon spots - carbon spots are small black flecks of actual carbon, impurities, within the metal of the coin. Carbon spots are present in the planchets before the coin is ever even struck. They are not something that just materializes on struck coins as time goes by. And they are rather uncommon.</p><p><br /></p><p>That said, it has become common within the hobby to call just about any black spots seen on coins carbon spots - when they are not carbon spots at all. But are rather merely black colored spots that are caused by some form of environmental contamination. In other words the black spots are an actual substance or material that has been physically deposited upon the coin. And in all likelihood it was not a black material when it happened. But instead a material that turned black over time.</p><p><br /></p><p>Carbon spots cannot be removed because they are within the metal itself. Black spots can be removed, sometimes, but even when they are removed they will leave a light colored spot behind because the metal underneath the black material has not been exposed to the elements so it is not toned like the surrounding metal is. So what you end up with is a coin that still has spots on it, just light colored ones instead of black ones. And yes, the luster underneath the spots is often affected as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Toning - the first thing that one has to understand about toning is that toning is &quot;in&quot; the metal, not &quot;on&quot; the metal. In other words when a coin tones it is the very substance of the metal itself that changes color. Toning is not some substance or material that is just deposited on top of the coin. That is why the only way to remove toning from a coin is to dip it, and that&#039;s because the acid in the dip actually removes the top layer of metal, the colored metal, from the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Toning, both AT and NT can occur very quickly. But it is not the speed of the reaction that defines them or separates one from the other. Rather it is that artificial toning is done intentionally while natural toning occurs unintentionally.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most artificial toning is not the result of liquid or powdered material being deposited on top of the coin like a stain or a paint would be. Yes, that does occur some times, but when it does it is typically done by somebody who has no idea about they are doing or how to accomplish it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most artificial toning, just like natural toning, is accomplished by caused by exposing the coin to certain gasses. But with artificial toning the gasses are sometimes concentrated (but not always) which makes the reaction occur more quickly. And artificial toning also occurs within the metal, not on the metal, as mentioned above. That is exactly why artificial toning cannot be definitively identified, by anybody. And there are other methods, besides exposure to gasses, that can be used as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Acetone - acetone will not removing toning. And it doesn&#039;t matter if that toning is artificial or natural, acetone will not remove it. That is because toning, both AT (in most cases) and NT, are within the metal itself. What acetone will do is remove some substances/materials that are &quot;on&quot; the coin. In other words if somebody was foolish enough to apply a substance that acts similar to how a paint or stain would act and thus creates the color we see, yes sometimes acetone can dissolve that substance/material and wash it away. But that is the only time acetone will remove the (applied) color that is supposed to be toning.</p><p><br /></p><p>edit - you were obviously typing the same time I was Jeff[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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