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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,557 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
I put a set of silver Washington quarters together several years ago. (early 70's). These were put in a Whitman bookshelf album. However the albums were not stored properly. The coins have tarnished and SOME, not all, look dark on the edges. Coins on the end, and top of the book are worse. About all of the mid 50's to 64 Washington's are AU. Most of the 40's are F-XF. 30's are F or less. Now for my question? Recently, I purchased several Dansco albums for my coin collections and found that these new albums would look a lot better if they had nice coins in the holes. I'm not stupid. I know that cleaning coins is a BAD idea. However these are not rare or investor grade coins. I'm more concerned with removing the tarnish from the coins. Not cleaning / polishing. Let me know what you think. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
This is a common problem, especially in folders. But this happens in albums too. My thought here is that you live with it. I had a number of nickels in an old folder that when I got to pulling them out 35 years later, I have the circumferential toning. They look 'odd' in the new album, but I know why and can accept it. BUT...I wish they hadn't toned that way (stayed even would have been my hope). That's what makes slabbing desirable on high grade coins I suppose.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
  to the mix here at CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
I saw some decent grade 1920's merc dimes in a dealer junk silver box because of a folder mishap. I had to ask him what happened to them. I was tempted to pick up a few but they were so ugly.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Interesting dilemma, that, has now come full circle. Toned coins are IN right now. Especially, ALBUM toned coins.
Can both of you post some pictures?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
My thought is to not clean them but if you want coins without tarnish I would recommend trying to trade up for coins without tarnish. Now I realize you may not be able to do this in one shot but I believe that you will be able to have a much better set when you get done. If you don't want to go this route and want to know of a method to remove the tarnish, I'm sure a quick search will yield many results. In the end though those methods may not give you a coin you will want to keep.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
They're toast in numismatic terms. Removing toning is the harshest of all cleaning operations, and circulated coins don't tone "naturally" in the same fashion as Mint State coins. Either way they'll be seen as having unnatural surfaces.
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
I would start over, buy new coins, put in the Dansco and store properly.
Keep your current coins as a silver investment.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Valued Member
United States
58 Posts |
I have the same issue with some of the coins I got from my father. It sucks and I have been tempted to try to clean them. Still haven't though. All of my new acquisitions are going in Dansco albums.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Got any pictures? Certain kind of "tarnish" gets called toning and can actually be desirable.
tarnish can't actually just be removed because it is a chemical reaction on the surface layer of the metal. Removing tarnish is actually removing the top layer of metal and you get a dull ugly coin. Polish looks even worse because it's shiny, but fake looking.
Edited by tkbslc
12/06/2014 12:18 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Tarnishing over the long term is one of the reasons why I won't use Dansco or Whitman folders. I don't use clear PVC album pages for this reason, either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
I can say that my folders from the 70s stayed in a reasonably controlled environment. I see horror stories where coins are left in the garage or attic and were destroyed. The tarnish I see feeds from the bordering edges and not for every coin. It seems most noticeable on higher state coins. I chatted with the LCS staff about this and they said quite common. And similarly to comments made here is that it detracts less on value than most folks would suspect. Folks with the circumferential toning have less to be concerned about especially on silver. Who knows I suppose but I moved from here to there hoping the clear plastic covers will slow down further toning.
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New Member
United States
40 Posts |
Warm water with Dawn dish detergent is the way to go, but air on the side of caution, if in doubt, leave them be so you do not damage them. According to many numismatists toning will not decrease the value of the coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Dawn is going to do nothing to remove tarnish.
A quick dip in E Z Est will remove the tarnish and not toast the coins. As long as it is quick. Dip..Out.Rinse.
I also would like to see pics though. Is this nasty black tarnish, or attractive gold/brown/grey?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
smokeriderdon - don't forget about the blue and rose color groups too! :)
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Personally, I think blue is more attractive.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,557 |
Posted 12/05/2014 10:00 pm
