What Caused This Toning/Staining On Gold?

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,703
yarm Valued Member United States 343 Posts	Posted 09/08/2021 9:49 pm Today's DNW auction featured this Cambridge Chancellor's gold medal for classics by W. Wyon awarded in 1936. It's encased in a gold ring and glass lunettes which can do an excellent job of protecting a medal if the ring and lenses are intact. So, what happened to this one? DNW cited "some toning" but this is 1936 gold. Maybe it was pried open a bit allowing moisture in. Other possible causes? https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archi...t_uid=403009 A couple of other mid-19th century Wyon products "under glass". Report this Post to the Staff

Sap Moderator Australia 16842 Posts	Posted 09/08/2021 11:02 pm "A little moisture" won't do that to a solid gold medal. I'd suspect fire damage. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Circus Pillar of the Community United States 3079 Posts	Posted 09/09/2021 06:16 am have to agree with Sap moisture wouldn't effect gold. Report this Post to the Staff
retiredkper Pillar of the Community United States 541 Posts	Posted 09/09/2021 12:28 pm Not knowing a thing about this medal my first question would be what fineness is it. If not pure what is it alloyed with. This could be a reaction with a base metal alloy like copper. If pure it could just be a surface impurity that would dip away. Report this Post to the Staff
yarm Valued Member United States 343 Posts	Posted 09/13/2021 11:02 am I couldn't find any official info on the gold fineness of these medals. Heritage has sold a couple without the casing, in one case noting the weight (91.5 gms) and in the other the Actual Gold Weight (AGW 2.63oz). 2.63oz x 31.1grams per oz/91.5 gms= 89.4%. Report this Post to the Staff
yarm Valued Member United States 343 Posts	Posted 02/20/2023 9:52 pm From a dealer website regarding the Chancellor's medal in my original post. "This medal originally realised a hammer price of £11,000 in a DNW sale dated 08/09/21 (lot 1396) where it was described as being gold. It was subsequently submitted to PCGS who assessed it as being silver and gilt, rather than gold (whilst also grading it SP66 - now removed from holder)." https://www.cooperscoins.com/collec...edal-by-wyon Here's another gilt silver medal under glass with edge toning. I'm off to see if the literature pinpoints a shift from gold to gilt for these medals and can confirm what I have! Edited by yarm 02/20/2023 9:54 pm Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,703

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