Storage And Toning.

This is another of the coins affected. Took 2 shots of the reverse to try and capture the colour.

I don't like eggs Ben. The case is in my office, a good way from any fumes. The trays inside are lined with a blue velvet type cloth and most of the coins are ok it is mainly the ones in the bottom tray. It's not a huge problem as I like clean silver anyway and am quite happy to clean them but I was quite surprised that such a change can occur in about a month. The Phoenicia AR stater, when in hand, has really turned a funny shade. Almost like when I was a kid (many years ago) and used to dunk silver 3d coins in urine, dry them out on the garage roof and wait for the rainbow effect to shine through.

You can get coin capsules up to 5mm in depth if your coins will fit, otherwise you could try wrapping in acid free tissue and keeping them in a tin or some such for a month to see if it stops the toning effect. Anything happened locally in the last month? Work on drains or other construction?

I do have a wooden, pigeon hole cabinet but the coins that are in there are all in capsules or flips. The ones that are toning are in an aluminium case, 5 trays in the case with a bit of sponge in the lid that squashes everything together when it's closed.

The owl has been in there about a month or so I think. The last time it came out was when I sent you a picture of it. The other stater has been in there since I purchased it... maybe 2 or 3 months tops. The picture of the stater doesn't show it well, I will post another one later.

Toothbrush with water usually but if it's one I am keeping then I will use a dip or a silver cloth.

Basically Sel, the case is aluminium with plastic trays lined with a velvet type material. The trays are obviously pressed and formed using heat and the velvet I think is either on a flat plastic before the shape is formed or is sprayed on after, the first being most likely. I have taken all of my coins out of this case but out of interest put a few in that are common to see what would happen. The following is from 3 days in the case, no more, just 3 days. For any new collectors to appreciate the below pictures I must stress that the effect you are seeing to occur naturally takes years.

The coin, before being locked in the case....








and the below pics, as it looks now. Again, let me stress that the effect is far greater than you can see on my pictures.

I might throw it away Ann, or sell it on the US ebay, they seem to like toned coins. I have never seen a coin 'tone' so quickly, I am just glad that I didn't put my better stuff in there. It's a strange one this, probably one for a chemist to answer. I personally hate the rainbow effect on any coin, it's almost always stuck on there to hide over cleaning or to get a higher price from the American market. Still, made an interesting topic!