doesn't Like Toned Coins

The main causes and accelerants of toning are:

- atmospheric sulfur - normally sulfur dioxide. Typically a problem in polluted industrial cities (though less so these days with increasing eco-awareness). Other sulfur-containing objects, such as paper, cardboard and rubber bands, can also cause toning problems and should be kept well clear of the coins.

- atmospheric chloride - salt, typically from residing near the ocean, a salt lake or other saline environment. Tends to turn a coin white or milky, rather than the black-brown of "real" tarnish, but can still destroy the lustrous appearance of silver.

- atmospheric water - moisture, humidity. Harmless in itself, but it greatly speeds up the reaction of chloride and/or sulfur. Keep silica gel or a similar desiccant in the safe to keep the moisture down, and avoid "document safes" that have built-in humidifiers. If possible, avoid taking your coins out and looking at them on rainy or humid days.

- atmospheric particulates - smog, wood smoke and tobacco smoke are a cocktail of nasty chemicals which can quickly wreak havoc on a shiny silver coin. Whether you smoke or not, your collection should be a No Smoking Zone.

- atmospheric oxygen - Bright and shiny is not the natural state of silver; given time it will eventually oxidise, even if you keep the exposure of other atmospheric nasties to a minimum.

- Dodgy plastic used in the albums and storage containers. As justcarl is fond of pointing out, it's not normally the plastic itself that's the true culprit, it's the other stuff they put in the plastic to make it look nice, that can cause problems years down the track. Nowadays most collectors are aware of the "PVC problem" and avoid the cheap and nasty albums. Also be careful of plastic safe lining, especially the foam insulation in fire-resistant safes.

- Temperature. As with all chemical reactions, the toning of silver happens faster at higher temperatures. This, combined with the fact that hotter air normally contains more moisture, proves that the old medicine bottle instructions "Store in a cool dry place" applies to your coins, too. Avoid taking your coins through extremes of temperature, hot-cold-hot-cold - you're bound to get condensation (moisture!) forming on the coins doing that.

As you can see, most of the problems are atmospheric. Keep your coins away from the air as much as possible and they should stay in pristine condition. Benji's idea of a vacuum chamber would work, though it's probably impractical for most collectors.

You can mitigate toning by putting inexpensive, unprotected, "sacrifice coins" in with your collection. If you have a lot of humidity you can put re-usable silica gel in with them. You can also try Intercept holders or Intercept material which, I believe, is a sacrifice material.

Still, at the end of the day there is only one direction that perfection can go. That's the wonderful thing about toned and circulated coins. "Perfection" has long since been discounted from the price. A carbon spot on a MS68 is tragic but on a well toned/circulated coin it would just be a big yawn.

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Many people don't want to hear this, but there are a few could tarnish removers out there, and uncirculated silver eagles would probably dip well.

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I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.

I've bought coins labeled cleaned, at a good discount. I haven't cleaned any myself, but I don't mind buying one if someone's already done a good job. It's not junk if you like the coin and the price. Dumb would be paying more for a coin that you don't like.

I consider them part of my "type" collection. I have plenty of examples of what they look like naturally after 50 years, but sometimes I also want to know what they might have looked like right from the mint.

Might as well invest some properties on Moon and you'll never have to worry about vaccum

AHHH another person that hasn't been there. No such thing as a vacuum on the Moon. Every large body in the sky such as the planets, most moons of all planets, etc have a atmospher of sorts. Even Comets have an atmosphere. That stupid stuff called gravity will always hold some sort of atmospher around there. The worst part is it is usually the heavier gasses though so much worse for coins.
And sap, you forgot one of the most common gasses that effect coins. Carbon DiOxide. This is the stuff you exhale. The best method I can think of to avoid this gas contacting your coins is to just stop breathing. In reality that is one of the worst items that creates the greenish patina on Copper coinage. Carbon Carbonate.
I keep all my coin albums in plastic zip lock bags and a contact with any of those manufacturers will tell you nothing in those plastic bags is a contaminate. Can't be or your food would pick it up. I've got 97 Albums all in those bags and have used plastic bags for the albums for as long as there have been plastic bags.