Just a thought? Hmmm?

joeykoins

Hi guys,
While posting on my other thread about the 1996 Silver Eagle I bought.
I was thinking? When other toned coins are together. Such as in my Dansco album for toners alone. Does other toned coins bunched up together,
tend to tone even more and quicker? Meaning, if I placed one blast white Silver Eagle in an envelope
with a strong toned Eagle. Will the white one turn colors because of the toner?
What are your thoughts guys.
Just pondering what might happen to the 1996? Also, will my other 13 toners in my Dansco, counter react to each other?
We shall see?
Thanks
Oh, one more thing... I'm not trying to be a Doctor here, I'm just curious?

FlyingAl

I think no. The envelope will tone the coins if they do tone at all.

Here's my high school chemistry answer: The reason coins tone is due to a reaction with an element(s) contained in a substance that causes a chemical reaction (likely oxidization) on the surface that appears as color. When the presence of that element(s) is gone, the tone stops. Therefore, the toned coin will not tone any others because it has no presence of the element(s) that caused the tone in the first place.

airplanenut

@FlyingAl said:
I think no. The envelope will tone the coins if they do tone at all.

Here's my high school chemistry answer: The reason coins tone is due to a reaction with an element(s) contained in a substance that causes a chemical reaction (likely oxidization) on the surface that appears as color. When the presence of that element(s) is gone, the tone stops. Therefore, the toned coin will not tone any others because it has no presence of the element(s) that caused the tone in the first place.

This is well stated and correct. I’d also add that if put in a container that can cause toning, theoretically the presence of multiple coins could result in each coin toning less because there is a finite amount of the substances causing the toning and they are being distributed over more coins. Now, enough of those substances or if the coins are separated in such a way that one coin can’t take away from another and this may be a moot point, but certainly additional coins shouldn’t result in more toning.

joeykoins

Wow, great answers guys. Thanks.
Yeah, maybe the envelope would be the culprit in my example. Like you mentioned. How bout if I would place the the two in a glass jar, the toner on top of the white Eagle? Same outcome, you say? What the heck are in these envelopes?

airplanenut

@joeykoins said:
Wow, great answers guys. Thanks.
Yeah, maybe the envelope would be the culprit in my example. Like you mentioned. How bout if I would place the the two in a glass jar, the toner on top of the white Eagle? Same outcome, you say? What the heck are in these envelopes?

Sulfur is a common ingredient to induce toning. And no, the toned coin should have little to no effect on the untoned coin. Think about it like this. You started with a silver coin. Another element (there could be more than one, but let's say one for simplicity) reacted with it, and now on the surface you have molecules of a combined silver and the other element. Since the element causing the toning now has a bond to the toned coin, it has no reason to break that bond just to jump ship and bond with the untoned coin.

Another way to think about it: imagine the toning is paint. When the toned coin is surrounded by wet paint, it takes on color. That paint then dries/hardens and is adhered to the coin. If you put another coin on it, the paint won't move since it's already stuck to the first coin. But if you put both coins in a container lined with wet paint, both would take on some of that paint. That's not quite how toning works, but perhaps it's a simpler way to visualize it.

jmlanzaf

Only if the surface contamination is volatile.

joeykoins

@airplanenut said:

@joeykoins said:
Wow, great answers guys. Thanks.
Yeah, maybe the envelope would be the culprit in my example. Like you mentioned. How bout if I would place the the two in a glass jar, the toner on top of the white Eagle? Same outcome, you say? What the heck are in these envelopes?

Sulfur is a common ingredient to induce toning. And no, the toned coin should have little to no effect on the untoned coin. Think about it like this. You started with a silver coin. Another element (there could be more than one, but let's say one for simplicity) reacted with it, and now on the surface you have molecules of a combined silver and the other element. Since the element causing the toning now has a bond to the toned coin, it has no reason to break that bond just to jump ship and bond with the untoned coin.

Another way to think about it: imagine the toning is paint. When the toned coin is surrounded by wet paint, it takes on color. That paint then dries/hardens and is adhered to the coin. If you put another coin on it, the paint won't move since it's already stuck to the first coin. But if you put both coins in a container lined with wet paint, both would take on some of that paint. That's not quite how toning works, but perhaps it's a simpler way to visualize it.

Now, I get it, thanks.
"Sulfur" is the key word, huh?

ricko

Chemistry
Tarnish is a product of a chemical reaction between a metal and a nonmetal compound, especially oxygen and sulfur dioxide. It is usually a metal oxide, the product of oxidation. Sometimes it is a metal sulfide. The metal oxide sometimes reacts with water to make the hydroxide; and carbon dioxide to make the carbonate. It is a chemical change. There are various methods to prevent metals from tarnishing.

Tarnish is environmental damage to the primary metal. It stops when the offending compound is fully bonded or removed. Tarnish is surface damage. Cheers, RickO

ShaunBC5

@ricko so what you’re saying is that you believe tarnish to be undesirable damage?
We learn new things about you every day

ricko

@ShaunBC5.... Yes, it is scientifically and indisputably a degradation of the host metal. I consider it environmental damage. I know there is almost a cult like desire for colorful tarnish, and people pay premiums for it. I am not such a person. Cheers, RickO