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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,779 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
I have some collections of UK gold sovereigns, however this post would apply to any solid gold coin(s) really. I'm thinking of putting them in a frame and on the wall, so that they can be enjoyed and not just stuck in box in a cupboard!
What I would like to know is whether the sun/sunlight would affect the coins? Should I put them somewhere that has little to no direct sunlight etc?
Any advice is gratefully received.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6628 Posts |
I wouldn't think sunlight would have any effect on gold  |
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Moderator
United States
34447 Posts |
@the, first welcome to CCF. Second, I agree that sunlight wouldn't affect gold. I would, however, caution you to think carefully about providing potential burglars with an enticing target. Maybe you could display your sovereigns in a sunlit room that isn't generally visible to the casual streetwalker?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Good advice.  to the CCF! |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
900 or 917 fine gold coins alloyed with copper can in fact, tone with age, given the appropriate aggressive environment. However, many decades of time (perhaps centuries), are needed to achieve this. I have noted British Guinea coins described in auction lot description as having an
"old cabinet tone".
Perhaps the toning could have come about from the gassing out of vapors from aggressive resins in the cabinet timbers
More modern coin cabinets in museums use woods that have far less aggressive resins in them, and certain cabinet timbers are specified for this purpose.
Following on from this, it would be reasonable to expect that gold coins alloyed with copper could tone very slightly, over a very long period of time, in an appropriate sunlight environment, with an aggressive (perhaps a salty seaside) atmosphere.
I would agree that sunlight by itself, would have a zero effect on toning on gold coins.
The copper in gold coins used in pendants as jewelry is subject to toning from the fatty acids released by skin. Fatty acids are responsible for the fingerprinting seen on copper and silver coins.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
I believe cabinet toning is from off gassing of the materials in the cabinet not the sunlight. I recommend putting the coins in coin safe capsules and put a UV blocking glass in the frame. John1  |
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Moderator
United States
190060 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Moderator
Australia
16868 Posts |
Sunlight does not affect the negligible rate of toning of gold sovereigns.
Silver coins, on the other hand, are a different story.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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New Member
 United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Thank you for all the replies.
The coins are in capsules, and I was planning on keeping them in these, then in a display frame. I hadn't considered using UV blocking glass, so thank you for the suggestion.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5686 Posts |
Regular glass already blocks most UV rays, and it's highly unlikely that visible or UV light will cause toning on gold. I wouldn't worry about it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36903 Posts |
Sun light won't hurt a gold coin.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,779 |
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Posted 09/04/2022 06:11 am
