Will silver coins always tone?

Hello All,

I have been collecting coins from all over the world. In spite of using best practices to preserve the coin, keeping it in a cool dry safe away from the elements never removing it from the coin holders the coins have still toned. My question is as a collector am i always doomed to toning no matter what i do or is there a way out.

I recently saw some toning on the us silver quarters and it broke my heart as just 48 hours before my entire stamp collection took a beating because of inbuilt acid in the paper and hence the question. Also my coins are stored in a tropical climate. (India) Does that have a bearing. Insights on what collectors do to preserve their coins and also some postings about best practices would be helpful.


Peace all.


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Welcome to the forum. In short, you are doomed. Chemical alteration by oxides and sulfides occurs in any climate, a tropical climate like yours does indeed exasperate the process, where increased humidity causes paper materials to break down at a faster rate. My guess is that only a vacuum chamber would work. There are several threads on the topic of chemical alteration of coins here, I would invite you to search the forum for further information, there may be some advice of use to you.

The good news is that some people like toned coins and pay extra for them.

 

spock1k:
(Hi to Capt. Kirk).
If you can purchase non-PVC plastic holders it may delay the toning, in addition, put packets of silica gel in the storage area. Use as many as necessary to maintain a dry atmosphere.
Also, do NOT use any old Wayte Ramond albums or ones from that time period. They contain sulphur and WILL tone the coins over time. But, some times the coins are beautiful, in fact some people buy those albums just to store them for the possibility of toning.
Yes, a tropical climate will effect the way that coins 'develop', however, please realize that not all toning is bad.
There are many coins that exhibit beautiful toning and will sell for more because of the attractive toning.
So, take care, and realize that toning is natural, and not necessarily bad.
Good luck.

 

I have a stunning BU Morgan 1883-O that is starting to tone slightly on the rim. It's stapled into a cardboard and plastic holder and I plan to just leave it there and see what happens. I was encouraged by your two respondents who said toning can increase the desirability of a coin.

 

Treashunt, I like your idea of silica gel very much. It gives me hope. Is there a particular brand or place where I can get that? something that you would recommend? Will gold coins suffer the same fate? I am currently based in the us for the past 6 years that had allowed me to amass the a great collection both in stamps and coins. But ultimately the coin is what i fear for the most since whatever could have happened to the stamps has already happened.

 

Gold is inert, unreactive in surficial environments, I can't think of anything that would attack it. Of course I'm talking about pure gold, not gold/silver or gold/copper alloy.

 

There are many brands of silica gel, since I save all of my money to spend on coins, I usually just use the ones that I get for free: like when you look in the pocket of a new jacket, or your wife buys a new purse, where ever.
However, Coin World advertises silica gel packets. A 450 gram package is $13.99, plus shipping. They state "protects 33 square feet of enclosed space from the effects of humid air. ....extract the moisture in the air protecting stamps & coins from the harmful effects of humidity. Can be used over & over again."
Also, a 40 gram for $5.99. In addition, they advertis "Metal Safe Corrosion Inhibitor" ($15.99) "keeps oxygen and airborne pollutants from harming the surfaces of coins."
Either or both ought to do what you want.
Good luck.
Frank
P.S. Gold will not tone, as acanthite mentioned, but the copper in the coins may tone (gold coins are only 90% gold, 10% copper), that is how they get that nice 'orange peel' toning/surfaces that people like.

 

If you collect silver coins, embrace the horror and learn to love toning.

 

I am not worried about the costs for protection at this minute i have been hit so hard that there is little left to protect . I found the link http://www.amosadvantage.com/scottonline/productgroup.asp?category=CISSUP&part_no=&Tab=coin

Will the METAL SAFE CORROSION INHIBITOR (BOX OF 2 CAPSULES) damage paper(make it yellow) i know the others will but I am not sure about this. Your thoughts?

 

does that mean my 1964 proof set will tone?

 

Doug,
I'm just wondering why there are so many 80 year+ blast white Morgan/Peace dollars that look like they were minted yesterday. Have they been dipped by people that know what they're doing or were they just in some kind of environment that protected them?I have no idea and have always been curious about it.

 

Mikjo:
Most ( if not all) of the blast white coin that you see have been dipped at one time or another in their history.
A definate exception would be the GSA Carson City dollars that you can find, in their original cases.
The coins were stored until they were sold under the Nixon administration by the government, and many were still toned, especially those that laid against the canvas bags that held them.
The toning on some of those pieces is spectacular. But many of the coins that were in the middle of the bag are still their original white.
Sure, there are some that are original, but they are the exception.

 

great info guys i am sure it helped a lot of people. 2 more questions on toning will platinum coins tone and what about the coins being sold by the mint in airtight cases will all of them tone as well. if so then airtite cases are not really airtite after all. thanks for the enthusiasm folks keep the replies coming fast and thick. Thanks

 

thanks guys. have a 54 proof set and ben is begining to tone a bit. I almost cried when i saw it but now i will just accept that is part of the aging process. Really does not look bad

 

Regarding Platinum:
It is my belief that platinum will not tone. It is one of the hardest metals used. And one with amazing properties.

 

Thanks a lot everyone. I am sure a lot of collectors were very happy to know that all silver coins will tone and it is not something that can be avoided and something that they are responsible for. I am very happy at the responses received.