What does it mean to say a coin has been "bleach toned"?

Prethen

I have heard of the term "bleach toned" applied to a coin from time to time, but I'm not sure what that means. Any examples of this type of coin?

kevinstang

Probably talking about soaking a silver coin in bleach, gives it a dull finish usually I think to try and hide past polishing/cleaning etc..

AskRaq

I have had silver jewelry (rings) on when working with highly chlorinated water and it "toned" one of them black/blue/purple.... I would presume that the same would apply to certain silver coins depending upon the length of exposure...

50cents

TwoSides2aCoin

Ever since I read the term "clorox strip", all I could think of is "dipping a piece of gauze into bleach, then.. wrapping it around the edge of the coin".

I'm not sure if it's bleach.. but one chemical will make silver tarnish to a black... When a coin tones naturally (this is what I've seen just with my old junk over the years).... Not all coins tone, I will first say.
I don't know what causes a few of mine to, but ... when they do... they often get a black edge first.
It's gross and it's ugly in my opinion.
Anyway, as toning progresses, it starts spreading into the face of the coin. It literally starts looking black. If the angle of light changes it really is an emerald green. Very dark.

I don't think wrapping a coin in a bleach soaked piece of gauze might give the appearance of that "blackening" that takes place on the edge in NT coins.

Now, add heat. You won't get iridecent (sp) colors, you will get NEON tones. I have never altered a coin (I have tried the olive oil for copper, acetone for silver to remove gunk, and even toothpaste as a child to CLEAN a few coins .,) but I've been reading this place for a few years. All sorts of experimentalists do experiments in our hobby as a way of testing for themselves. ( I hope they grind up the coins after ward or drill a hole in them...) Don't mind me rambling on.
I'm just thinking out loud.
I have a lot of widgets, but I cannot bring myself to experiment.

bigmansam88

Anyone have pics of coins that didn't turn black from bleach?

TwoKopeiki

It turns either completely black, or "grainy" black. Either way - very obvious to detect.

Ronyahski

"Clorox toning" has a distinct look to it. I'm excluding the coins some have seen as black, grainy black, powdered silver, etc., and am referrring to the colorful coins. Common colors of clorox toning are blues, purples, and a sea/army green. The typical toning pattern is hard to describe - the coin is completely covered with color, the colors are patchy and come together with a crinkled paper/ alligator skin/jigsaw puzzle (pick one) kind of look. The colors look uniform, not very vibrant, and luster is slightly impaired.

Most of the clorox toned coins I can remember were Seated, Trade, or Gobrechts. Unfortunately (fortunately for me) I don't own one, so can't provide a picture.

BECOKA

Very informative. I had guessed incorrectly. I thought it meant dipped clean (Blast white) and then re-toned.