Save the Sparklers this year! A science project.
Coinscratch
Posts: 8,669 ✭✭✭✭✭
Recently inspired by these two beauties in CoinFacts that are quite honestly beat up yet still made 67+ each.
Now, I'm not trying in anyway to say that these two coins were artificially toned. After all they straight graded with PCGS.
In my opinion, my MS67 (below) is superior to these two yet lacks color and as many hits. But I won't be cracking it out anytime soon. At least not until my science project comes back with positive results.
So, you hear tell about toned coins that sat in tissue paper or albums containing sulfur so, when I saw that leftover sparkler in the garage I thought to myself "Self, what could possibly go wrong".
Here are the tools needed for the project excluding time. And I'm starting with one under graded coin imo.
I put this together over Thanksgiving weekend and it has been sitting in the window. I'm thinking by July 4th it will be ready if it doesn't ignite first.
Comments
You will definitely get something.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
You know @Coinscratch
that @ricko is looking down on you and is making plans to remove all the blast white stickers in your area.
Good luck in your science 101 project.
Let us view the results bad or good.
Have a safe and happy New Year,
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
You could add another variable - sit it on top of the water heater or by the clothes dryer vent ????
Interesting for sure.
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Did the same type treatment 20 or so years ago with match heads. Ruined two nice Lincolns and two nice Roosevelts.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
How long did they sit?
@Coinscratch Well Mr Wizard, good luck. I love science experiments. Would be nice to view the coin surface changes as it progresses. Is that gift tissue paper? Are you storing this victim at room temperature?
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Funny coincidence, I just snagged a handful of free books of matches at the Wawa for the same purpose. Now I shall choose a victim coin.
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
will be interesting to find out
No, that tissue paper is from the sparkler so it's already infused with sulfur and I added some of the gun powder for good measure.
@WAYNEAS Thanks and same to you sir! I miss our beloved Rick0...
You really need low exposure for longer time
@Coinscratch said:
Mine sat above my medecine cabinet in the bathroom for additional moisture effect. IIRC, they sat for 6 months and the dimes were black and the copper just mottled. Too much sulfur. Did not think to try soaking in acetone at the time.
Jim>
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Might be more exciting if you lit a match to that thing now!
I’ve got a feeling that Ricko might have approved of all this.
He had an appreciation for the methods and chemistry of toning and implied that he had done some of his own experiments over the years. RIP buddy!
Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014
Ricko would have lit a match to it all right and then with a big smile on his face would say, Cheers!
Kinda like the bathroom humidity idea. That and the temp would fluctuate.
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
Lower exposure to light?
I'm guessing we will be seeing one ugly Kennedy half in the near future.
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Maybe. I suppose it could turn gray if all of the colors mixed. But I was shooting for blue/purple.
I have some other projects in the works as well…
I'm thinking - lower amounts of the catalyst or toning agent, such as Sulphur (match heads/sparklers).
The chemical that accelerates the process. You only need a very small amount.
Then a longer time to soak it up, say a year or more, rather than 6-7 months.
Patience grasshopper.
Just my 2 cents.
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Your thread prompted an emotional response...
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Good luck with your experiment! Keep us posted.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Cool experiment, please post the results. For a second there I thought you were going to leave it in the slab which, in my opinion, would be a no-no.
Mr_Spud
Negative, and also I will not be cooking, gassing, or anything else considered taboo. I will however resubmit the coin if I think it looks cool enough for a TrueView regardless if the label says Questionable Color.
I'm just going through the motions started with Zincs and moved all the way to Ikes, loving those btw.
Actually, those little son of a biscuit eaters are tough! The hammer wouldn't crack it with the amount of pressure I was comfortable with. So, I have a large pair of wire cutters and I simply cut off the corners.
I feel the coin is under graded at 66 but it would not be worth the grading costs unless it gets to 7+ or better.
Nothing to lose really.
I hear you @Coinscratch, not easy.
I use a vise. Just slowly crank it down, loosen it up, turn the slab and repeat.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Hey @OAKSTAR Not to mention the satisfaction you get...
Oh! So your cleaned are ya, we'll see about that.
@Coinscratch - Although I try to stay away from problem coins, it was the perfect coin for my walker circulated Whitman set.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
"Where's the coin that you're trying the experiment on?"
"I put it by the stove, Why?"
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Yard work or coins today, or both?
Better go with taxes…
Exposure to lower levels of sulfur for a longer duration of time.
I'll try that on the next one.
I have a new candidate/victim 😁