On The Subject Of Toning: For Some Of You Chemists...

These are some beautiful coins...either they were in the same hoard/same storage conditions, or they are doctored...Any ideas?

I've been experimenting cleaning, toning, melting and just about anything else you can think of with coins and other miscellaneous metals for well into the 40 or more year area. I was a chem major and finihed up as an Electrical engineer but my love has always been chemistry. Now as for toning metals such as those Silver cups, the safest method I have found is really simple. I've had some great luck with just common dish soaps. Naturally different brands have different effects. It appears that the more expensive brands such as Palmolive or Dove do not effect Silver as much as the cheaper brands though. Try some of the cheapest brands hou can find. Just coat the cups with the soap and allow to stand somewhere to dry and eventually they should tone pending on where you leave them and the soap you used. Sunlight will do a little additional work with them. To get a very truly unnatural appearance use gun blueing solutions on the cups. I've tried things like mud but the massive differences in compositions create to numerous of differences. It may sound a little volgar but don't forget the acidic properties of human secretions that will also effect Silver toning.
Regarless of what you do always remember that toning on Silver is a chemical reaction of the Silver with an outside substance. This means if you remove the toning, you will in essense be removing Silver from the subject. Since toning seldom is consistant on such materials, so would the removal of such toning be inconsistant. This means you could extensively damage the substance in some areas more than other areas.
Good luck and keep us informed.

Excellent!! I sincerely appreciate the information.

Now......

I am going to try peeing on one of my loving cups , but I don't want this to start any rumors about me on this board!

I have two cups so I will try the soap on the other!

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Originally posted by just carl

I've been experimenting cleaning, toning, melting and just about anything else you can think of with coins and other miscellaneous metals for well into the 40 or more year area. I was a chem major and finihed up as an Electrical engineer but my love has always been chemistry. Now as for toning metals such as those Silver cups, the safest method I have found is really simple. I've had some great luck with just common dish soaps. Naturally different brands have different effects. It appears that the more expensive brands such as Palmolive or Dove do not effect Silver as much as the cheaper brands though. Try some of the cheapest brands hou can find. Just coat the cups with the soap and allow to stand somewhere to dry and eventually they should tone pending on where you leave them and the soap you used. Sunlight will do a little additional work with them. To get a very truly unnatural appearance use gun blueing solutions on the cups. I've tried things like mud but the massive differences in compositions create to numerous of differences. It may sound a little volgar but don't forget the acidic properties of human secretions that will also effect Silver toning.
Regarless of what you do always remember that toning on Silver is a chemical reaction of the Silver with an outside substance. This means if you remove the toning, you will in essense be removing Silver from the subject. Since toning seldom is consistant on such materials, so would the removal of such toning be inconsistant. This means you could extensively damage the substance in some areas more than other areas.
Good luck and keep us informed.

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Great!

I ordered 10 sets. Congratulations!

Agreed.

I may have to try some of this on the cups.

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Originally posted by TypeMaster

I am going to try peeing on one of my loving cups.

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That statement gave me a mental image that I could have successfully lived without! That said, however, urine used to be helpful in bleaching wool, leather, and other natural materials many years ago.

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Originally posted by Snooba

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Originally posted by TypeMaster
I am going to try peeing on one of my loving cups.

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That statement gave me a mental image that I could have successfully lived without! That said, however, urine used to be helpful in bleaching wool, leather, and other natural materials many years ago.

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Now here is just a little more information about that subject. As a person that just went through numerous cancer operations of the bladder, lymph nodes, prostate and associated nerves, I learned a lot about the properies of urine. And not jsut here say butfrom the entire medical staff at many hospitals. For example are you aware that it varies pending on what you eat or drink. It is slightly acidic and also at times contains small amounts of Acetone. Note that Acetone is the most commonly suggested solvent for cleaning coins if cleaning is to be done. And note if this substance is to be used in an attempt to tone coins or those cups, please drink a good portion of acidic drinks such as OJ, Grapefruit juices, etc. Keep away from neutralizers such as milk.
Good luck and keep us all informed