Unwanted toning of state quarters

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by dreamer94, Nov 9, 2006.

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  1. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    I purchased several sets of uncirculated state quarters from a mail order dealer. They came in individual 2X2 cardboard holders. I stored them in a cardboard box.

    A few months after I received them, I put them into a Dansco album. I noted that several of them (it turns out to be the ones on the top of each stack of 2X2 holders) were toned a yellowish color. The ones underneath remained white in color.

    The dealer said the culprit was most likely moisture in the air. However, a bunch of circulated state quarters I've left sitting around in an open jar for several years are as white and shiny as the day they were made.

    Has anyone else had this experience with uncirculated state quarters? Does everyone agree the culprit is moisture in the air?
     
    dreamer94, Nov 9, 2006
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  3. 09S-V.D.B

    09S-V.D.B Coin Hoarder

    No, the moisture in the air isn't the culprit. From what you've described, most likely the toning was caused by storing them in the cardboard box.
     
    09S-V.D.B, Nov 9, 2006
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  4. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Most people never notice it, but an MS coin will tone faster and easier than a circulated coin. And if you think about it for a minute, there's a reason for that.

    Mint state coins have typically have lots of luster, but what causes luster ? Luster is created by the flow lines of the metal when the coin is struck. And if you think about those flow lines and what they would look like if greatly magnified it would be kind of like this - /\/\/\/\/\/\/\ - the flow lines are like fine grooves with the sides exposed. This means that more surface area is exposed to the elements than if the surface were like this - ______________ . And that additional surface area is not flat and smooth, it is kind of rough in a microscopic way. And that roughness allows the air to react with the metal because the particles of the metal are so fine - it cause them to oxidize more easily. Thus MS coins tone quicker and more easily than circulated coins which typically have little luster and a flat, smooth surface.

    Now as to why your coins are toning, I would say it is a combination of all things - the cardboard holders, the humidity in the air, where you live because the air is different in different parts of the country, and also how you heat and cool your home. In other words, the environment.

    Place your MS coins in good quality holders, keep them in a cool dry place with a consistent temperature and they will either not tone or they will much, much more slowly.
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 9, 2006
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  5. ranchhand

    ranchhand Coin Hoarder

    thanks for the great primer on toning, good read.
    I for one have several albums of coins purposely toning right now ;)
     
    ranchhand, Nov 9, 2006
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  6. AdamL

    AdamL Well-Known Member

    I would have to agree with GDJSMP. But also, from personal experience, I beleive the cardboard holders cause toning. Just an observation based on my own collection, but I don't like those cardboard holders.
     
    AdamL, Nov 9, 2006
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  7. SCNuss

    SCNuss Senior Member

    I have found a large number of Statehood quarters that are toned a light gold color. I may try to build a separate toned quarter set.
     
    SCNuss, Nov 9, 2006
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  8. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    The argument against that is that it was only the top coin on each stack that was toned. That made me think it was something in the air. I suggested to the dealer that it was something from the cardboard box, but he disagreed.

    Anyway, the coins are now in a plastic air-tight container. However, they're still in the cardboard flips. I just haven't had time to put them all into the albums yet.
     
    dreamer94, Nov 10, 2006
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  9. Jimm1514

    Jimm1514 New Member

    I also have recently discovered several coins of mine that were stored in cardboard holders that had small spots of moisture on the coin's surface and as a result started toning.

    I like toning on some coins if it's even, but I was concerned that the coins might spot. I decided to open them and start putting them in PVC Free flips. what do some of you think about storing coins this way?

    Jim
     
    Jimm1514, Nov 10, 2006
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  10. vipergts2

    vipergts2 Jester in hobby of kings

    toning

    I have also noticed a lot of toned state quarters lately. Several Nebaska and Colorado quarters.
     
    vipergts2, Nov 10, 2006
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  11. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    Recipe for toning quarters

    So now that I'm replacing the toned quarters with new ones, I might as well have some fun with the toned ones. What's the recipe for toning? Is there some kind of witch's brew you could expose them to that would result in desirable color changes?
     
    dreamer94, Nov 12, 2006
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  12. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    The number of ways to intentionally or artificially make a coin tone are nearly limitless. But experienced collectors can often detect the artificial toning and they consider it damage to, or at the very least alteration of, the coin. As a result not many want such coins.

    Natural toning however takes place just as it has to your coins and is often highly desired. It too can occur in many ways, some of them taking years and others in a short time.
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 12, 2006
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  13. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    So what conditions are conducive to "natural" toning. Supposedly lying in a mint bag for several decades works well, but I don't have any bags. I was thinking of putting them back in the cardboard box where the toning started.
     
    dreamer94, Nov 12, 2006
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  14. toddestan

    toddestan New Member

    If you're patient, putting the coin near or wrapping it in paper that is acidic or contains some sulfur usually does the trick. Tissue paper works well, as well as manilla envelopes. It's possible that is what happened to your coins in the first place, if the cardboard box you stored them in was just an ordinary (not archival) box.
     
    toddestan, Nov 12, 2006
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  15. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    Thanks for your suggestions. I put them back into the box that they were in when the toning started. They're still in the cardboard holders and I put some rough tissue paper and an old manila envelope in the box.

    I've attached a few images of how they look now. I'll give you an update in 30 or 40 years.
     

    Attached Files:

    dreamer94, Nov 14, 2006
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  16. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Based on the way they look now, I'd check 'em about once a month. You may decide you want the toning to stop ;)
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 14, 2006
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  17. ranchhand

    ranchhand Coin Hoarder

    just out of curiosity i checked my dansco state quarter albums... all the proofs are starting to target tone!
    :)

    What do you think will happen to dreamers coins GDJMSP?
     
    ranchhand, Nov 14, 2006
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  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Toning on a coin is a subjective thing - beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that. So he may decide that enough is enough at some point. But unless you keep an eye on them - how will you know ? And once they go beyond a certain point - there's no going back. Too much of a good thing if ya know what I mean.

    That avatar of yours is a good example - yeah, it's toned. But what if it had toned more ? Toning only tends to get darker with time.
     
    GDJMSP, Nov 14, 2006
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  19. Speedy

    Speedy Researching Coins Supporter

    I've got a Whitman album with ASE in it and some of them have started to tone a pretty red---its starting at the rim and moving to the center...I wonder what it will end up looking like!

    Speedy
     
    Speedy, Nov 15, 2006
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  20. dreamer94

    dreamer94 Coin Collector

    Do you have the albums in Dansco "corrosion resistant" slipcases?

    I have my quarter albums in them (all clad quarters) and so far, they haven't toned at all.
     
    dreamer94, Nov 15, 2006
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  21. 9roswell

    9roswell Senior Member

    i had to remove my ase set from a dansco album was making them tone
     
    9roswell, Nov 15, 2006
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