2020 Silver Proof Set - Blue Reverse Nickel

Okay, that does make sense. Hopefully it was some air that got to it before it arrived to me and not my storage environment. Thanks!

Appears to be "haze" starting,sell it quick.
John1

Just my opinion, it's beginnings of toning I believe, a slight but noticeable haze, The very beginning stage of toning. On a non -PL Business strike or a matte proof coin, it wouldn't be noticed until a much thicker layer is formed. On a Proof or a Prooflike coin with mirrors, it is noticeable probably many years or decades before you'd pick it up otherwise. you don't notice a fog on the car, but you'd notice it on a mirror or window let's say as an example, but it's happening in both cases if the conditions are right just one is more visible than the other.

check where you are storing them, for moisture (humidity) also temp changes with cold (like a closet or drawer) and then to hot (like a room with heat) can cause condensation which will lead to toning. It can be near a drafty window that gets a sun beam in the afternoon and that heats up and these temp changes, lots of environmental reasons for it happening, but toning will happen with oxygen as well as other contaminants, but the moisture factor is the easiest to control.

In my experience, the main causes are humidity and temperature, anything that can trigger condensation or evaporation on the metal surface. control the humidity, and keep temps stable and you can control the toning.

it's also on the obverse starting at the edge inward as opposed to the reverse which is starting center outward. as this "haze" thickens it will reflect different colors of light. Not necessarily a bad thing as sometimes it can turn out pretty. but it goes through phases some uglier than others along the way to terminal toning.

this "toning" leads to the discussions/arguments of 'it's damage" or "it's fine and doesn't hurt the grade unless it's terminal and turning black".
The pretty toned coins can fetch multiples of the price of "clean" coins without toning on them, just a fact, but it's not for everyone some people like their coins looking like the day they were minted also, it's preference. What I will say is every top shelf collection I've seen at auction are toned, they aren't blast white fresh looking coins, even the proofs.

if we are talking about just the nickle of that proof set, why not buy a clad proof set with a perfect nickel and keep that one intact if you want a clean example? I mean you don't necessarily have to get rid of the whole set and let it ride to see how it turns out in another 50 years. It should go gold at some point then shift to yellows to reds to blues, greens, back to yellows,and follow this cycle a few times before going terminal and the toning film on the coin getting too thick to filter light in which it goes brown to black and is ugly. hahaha. beginning and end is ugly. the end can eat away at the surface of the coin when it's that thick and been there for so long.

either you like it or you don't, that's up to you. I have too much indoor humidity in south florida to bother fighting toning myself, although I don't get drastic temp changes, for me I can either fight it with extreme measures and desiccants and damp rid or dehumidifiers and the costs to do it, or accept it as "how it is" and spend my money collecting coins instead. LOL

I've got silver proof sets since 1999. What's odd is some toned some didnt, some toned on one side, some toned on one lens, some toned on two lenses one side. My 99 and 00 sets aren't this bad or good depending on personal opinions.

Anyways here's the worst or best depending on how you see toning. About 5-10 years ago they looked like yours did. It's parts of 2001 set which is my worst,or best. the oppsite sides look fine and no toning, at least not to this level. No idea why they do and other don't, maybe it was before I bought them. Really depends on if you don't mind it and want to see how it turns out in the long haul. The pictures really don't do them justice but it's the best I can do.

My whole collection has the same conditions. I've got proof silver eagles since 2002 and nothing. My 1999 silver proof set isn't like this at all.
The Jefferson nickel is still Cloudy white/blue. The others showing toning go from a gold to a red but it's hard to make out from the pictures. My guess is this will then go to green to blues and purples over time but just a guess.

That's fine John1 I appreciate the opinion. It's early still and in a couple decades more I'll see how it goes from there. I'm not worried about value either way if I was I would have sold it 20 years ago and probably wouldn't collect coins at all because for me toning is happening regardless of what I do on certain things, it's hit or miss on what gets it and what doesn't as it's all int he same place. I'm in for the long haul and got nothing but time.

Still worth melt regardless. these pictures don't do it justice at all though, I'm not a photographer or even into photography, I took a couple quick shots with my cellphone trying to avoid glare off the holder and tried to get it in focus, but I didn't try to get all shades of colors represented or take the picture at the best contrasts. I know it looks yellow to brown but in hand the white is less apparent, while it's more of a yellow to burgundy and heading towards purple and blue.


As I said it's early still It was a slight white film maybe 7-10 years ago, looking like the nickle in that set, I've still got a whole spectrum to go through though, it's just gone gold, russet, and starting burgundy, it's still got blues and greens to go through another cycle of golds to reds and repeat again. It's a hurry up and wait game :)

I found this article on another forum about toning and the layer of film and the wavelengths of light ect. I don't want to plagiarize or copy just parts of someone else's work, but if anyone is interested at looking at it I would of put a link to it but it's apparently forbidden on this website. If you'd like to read it, it's on forums.collectors, and titled "towards and understanding of color progression on toned coins..."