In the wrong environment, gold can tone as well. Just like silver, there is ugly toning and attractive toning. That is a seven digit OGH, so it's been in there a while. Stored in an attic? Who knows. The only toned gold I own below.
It's 22K or .9167 fine gold. There is copper alloy to harden the gold which is a soft metal in its pure form. When the AGE came out, the mint copied the specifications (both size and metal content) of the Kruger Rand which was the most popular 1 oz gold coin at the time and the coin that the US Mint was competing with. This is why it was 22K and not .900 fine which is the fineness standard traditionally used by the US mint.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
The coin does look as if it were heated... though it could have happened through other methods. As with most tarnish, it does not appeal to me.... Gold should be gold (IMHO). Being a 'gold bug', I have always felt that the appearance of a beautiful gold coin can not be improved.....Anything subsequent to minting, detracts from the beauty. Cheers, RickO
It's 22K or .9167 fine gold. There is copper alloy to harden the gold which is a soft metal in its pure form. When the AGE came out, the mint copied the specifications (both size and metal content) of the Kruger Rand which was the most popular 1 oz gold coin at the time and the coin that the US Mint was competing with. This is why it was 22K and not .900 fine which is the fineness standard traditionally used by the US mint.
Not quite. The Krugerrands are alloyed with pure copper, which is why they have a reddish color. Maple Leafs are pure gold, and they have a much lighter color that many bullion buyers seem to like.
The act that authorized the American Eagles also banned the importation of Krugerrands, so the U.S. bullion coin would not have to compete with them. To compete with the Maple Leaf, the American Eagle was mandated to contain 3% silver by weight, which does give them a much lighter color than the KR's. The remaining 5-1/3% alloy is copper.
That said, I have no idea what caused the vaguely purplish toning on the two coins shown. I have never encountered it.
The slabs seem to be from a similar time period. Could there have been a problem with the gaskets? Do other gold coins from this time period show any unusual toning?
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
Thank you all for your responses. My question is, if the above posted coin was heated or gassed, wouldn't it leave some kind of traces on the plastic holder &/or affect the color of the label ?
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Oh my. Looks like some serious environmental damage going on there. Is the plastic completely sealed? No tiny cracks/separation?
In the wrong environment, gold can tone as well. Just like silver, there is ugly toning and attractive toning. That is a seven digit OGH, so it's been in there a while. Stored in an attic? Who knows. The only toned gold I own below.
I'm gonna take a wild guess and say gassed or heated in the holder.
It's just bullion so who the heck....
For @Timbuk3 .... here are the image
Is there a little copper in the mix ? Calling @jwitten to opine
It looks as if heat was used.
Ouch!!
May be "Just bullion" as a member observed but that would upset me.
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Gold eagles are only 22K gold, and there is copper in the mix.
It is more then just bullion, there is a nice premium on that coin in MS69. That is the key date as per the prices in the Greysheet.
I am not sure if I like the toning on that coin or not, I would probably need to see it in person, to know if it is attractive or not.
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Iodine?
Bake job
It's 22K or .9167 fine gold. There is copper alloy to harden the gold which is a soft metal in its pure form. When the AGE came out, the mint copied the specifications (both size and metal content) of the Kruger Rand which was the most popular 1 oz gold coin at the time and the coin that the US Mint was competing with. This is why it was 22K and not .900 fine which is the fineness standard traditionally used by the US mint.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
The coin does look as if it were heated... though it could have happened through other methods. As with most tarnish, it does not appeal to me.... Gold should be gold (IMHO). Being a 'gold bug', I have always felt that the appearance of a beautiful gold coin can not be improved.....Anything subsequent to minting, detracts from the beauty. Cheers, RickO
Gold can tone, so I say it could be natural.


Not quite. The Krugerrands are alloyed with pure copper, which is why they have a reddish color. Maple Leafs are pure gold, and they have a much lighter color that many bullion buyers seem to like.
The act that authorized the American Eagles also banned the importation of Krugerrands, so the U.S. bullion coin would not have to compete with them. To compete with the Maple Leaf, the American Eagle was mandated to contain 3% silver by weight, which does give them a much lighter color than the KR's. The remaining 5-1/3% alloy is copper.
That said, I have no idea what caused the vaguely purplish toning on the two coins shown. I have never encountered it.
The slabs seem to be from a similar time period. Could there have been a problem with the gaskets? Do other gold coins from this time period show any unusual toning?
Iodine tends to impart a reddish color, quite different from what’s seen on the subject coin.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It doesn't look gold anymore......it now looks like nickel.
Not attractive to me.
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My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I've seen several other old green holders with purple toned gold. I find them attractive.
Thank you all for your responses. My question is, if the above posted coin was heated or gassed, wouldn't it leave some kind of traces on the plastic holder &/or affect the color of the label ?
I think it looks pretty now!
Blue and yellow create orange...