My Proof Quarters Are Tarnishing And Turning Copper Colored

Not sure what is causing this, but it wouln't hurt to keep them in airtight ziplock bags.


It seems to be a popular phenomenon, but no matter what, please Don't Clean Them!

Sophie once it happens it happens, you shouldn't try and clean it off as they'll just be worth 25 cents at that point.

Depending how they end up that toning can actually dramatically increase in the value. At this point I'd just keep them how they are and see how they turn out hoping you get some attractive ones.

Notice the toning is all facing towards the edge of the holder. This would tell me that either the cardboard or the coins are reacting with either outside air ( I am pretty sure the OGP holder is not airtight ) or the sealing process that "welds" the plastic together off gasses something that eventually reacts with the coins/paper. The end result is the tarnishing. Being that the plastic, as far as I know, that is used in the holder has been the same for a long time, I feel the plastic explanation is far less likely. One curious question...where you store the coins, do you also store coin cleaner like Ezest or coins that have been dipped? Reason I ask is that I have dipped some grungy impaired proofs I have found roll hunting and they gain a brownish toning just like what you show after a while from the dipping. If you store cleaner in the same closed space, that might be the cause

Sadly, I am guessing the toning is the result of inappropriate packaging. Individual screw capsules would be better for the coins BUT
usually, the set is worth more than the total value of the coins that make the set. What is more important to you, the set or the individual coins?

You are either stuck with these sorts of questions to answer for yourself, or to re sell them.

Maybe the storage environment is not as dry as you might think. I recommend using some type of desiccant or silica gel to absorb any moisture, along with using zip-lock bags.

I'd say you have a pretty nice collection of toners now.

It's the mint packaging and storage that causes the toning. None of the mint packaging is air tight. I store mine in ziplocks with desiccant packs....then I put those in Tupperware. It won't stop the toning, but it will slow it to a crawl. Ultimately, if you don't want them to tone further, you should remove them, rinse them with acetone and put them in airtite holders. Store the airtites in ziplocks and Tupperware too!

Don't forget environmental factors.

I'm lucky to live in Denver, Colorado's thin, dry air.

NONE of the coins I have acquired new have toned. My 1986-2008 Proof ASE's were all given to me as Christmas presents by my grandfather, in their years of issue. They are all still blast white.

I have also purchased some naturally toned raw/OGP lensed coins, and none of them have toned any further.

There was a thread about broken-coin's 2009 Copper Proof Cents toning when no other lenses in the 2009 Proof Sets had toned. I went around to almost every coin dealer in Denver/Colorado Springs checking 2009 Clad Proof Sets, and none of theirs were toned.