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 Replies: 13 / Views: 6,931 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
I am wondering, since black is the most common type of toning and the last color in the toning process, why are these coins always looked at as problem coins? Most coins were used in circulation and were exposed to air which has a tendency to turn silver coins black. Of course many older coins have been cleaned but many original coins are darker in color or may have spotty black toning. Edited by buddy16cat
06/04/2013 02:13 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1536 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
that doesn't look like toning, that looks more like the dirt and grime off almost 100years, of oils sweat and dirt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Huh, I wonder if I soaked it in distilled water and acetone how it would look. I just figured it was silver oxide that would put it in the "Details" category. It was described as an "original VF" when I bought it.
Edited by buddy16cat
06/03/2013 9:15 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
Toning is a more over all reaction of the surface of the metal with the sulfur and other contaminates in the air mixing with oxygen and moisture.
The grime and dirt generally settles in the low areas and they are semi protected by raised area's of the die strike process. Before you do anything wait and see if some other will chime in. The toning is also more on the transparent side rather than opaque
as that coin looks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
Yes I think I will wait before doing anything. Silver oxide will not be removed by acetone and distilled water so it is a waste of effort. I would actually prefer to leave this coin alone some purists want to see original surface dirt.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Huh, I wonder if I soaked it in distilled water and acetone how it would look. I just figured it was silver oxide that would put it in the "Details" category. You have that backwards. It's not a Details coin now, but it will be if you do anything to it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
You don't think if I posted this to the grading section it would grade VF Details-corroded? If it is a details coin, mine as well make it look better. I should post it and see what people say.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
I have an ultrasonic cleaner that takes off surface dirt but leaves surfaces intact (although you need to immerse the coin in water inside the cleaner, so I guess forgetting a coin in there could turn copper green). I've been pleasantly surprised by it more than once - silver coins that I thought were tarnished will have nice surfaces underneath the surface dirt (it's impossible for this cleaner to remove actual tone!). And it does very well for dug coins, too. If your quarter just has accumulated crud on it, one of those cleaners would take it off without damaging the surfaces.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
I only really use acetone and distilled water but I am reluctant unless there is something on the coin that could damage it more or it is already a coin with issues. Of course I do use verdi-care to remove verdigris from coppers that can damage it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19942 Posts |
Looks like a combination of toning and surface grime. It's not corroded or an otherwise problem coin from what I can see. I wouldn't do anything to it, nice coin just as it is.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
You don't think if I posted this to the grading section it would grade VF Details-corroded? I'm not positive, but that looks like honest patina to me. A TPG might call it "Details," but only out of prejudice against coins that have lived an honest life. If you manage to remove the darker areas - note it isn't the same shade all over - you will still have a dark-and-light coin where what used to be the lighter areas are now the darker ones because even if some of it is something acetone will remove, not all of it is. That will be an obvious Details coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
I know what you mean, I soaked a Barber quarter that was completely covered with black grime, when it came off, most of the coin was white faced. Apparently grime blocks air from affecting the coin. The seller advertised it as having "original surfaces". Edited by buddy16cat
06/04/2013 01:58 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
One reason why a coin with black toning (Toning not grime) is considered a problem coin is because by the time the toning becomes heavy enough to reach black, the reaction has gone so far as to have actually etched the surface of the coin. If you remove the toning you would find dead flat surfaces with all the microscopic flowlines that create the luster on a Unc coin corroded away.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 6,931 |
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Posted 06/03/2013 8:56 pm
