Is there any natural (chemical) process that would turn silver into a golden-yellow color? [Images U

STONE

I recently purchased a coin that, as far as I know, was only minted in silver!
The item was described as having a "golden" colored skin on each side. I said "what the heck" and bought it anyway, as the type is somewhat difficult to come by in higher grades.

My question for all you chemists, metalurgists, etc. is: Is there a natural process that could turn ordinary silver into looking golden in color?

I'd like to hold off on pics until I see what type of answers I get, then I'll post some pics

Thanks for the help

Barberian

This doesn't directly answer your question, but I have an 1830 CBH in NGC AU58 that has such even gold toning that it resembles a gold coin. NGC slabbed it, so I assume that, in their opinion, such toning can occur naturally. It's in my SDB, so I can't offer any pictures at the moment.

Goldbully

I got this yellow-gold 1832 CBH on hold with NorthEast Numismatics...not sure I will seal the deal until in hand.

nicetoning42107

Yellows and golds occur throughout the natural progression of toning. In fact, a light yellow might be the first color encountered before turning to brown (in between this first yellow and brown could be called a golden color). After brown is a light blue, then another yellow which I think is brighter than the first yellow. But Sunnywood probably be able to clear this up or correct me. This toning progression is supposedly the result of the Silver reacting with Sulphur. What color shows depends on how long the Sulphur has reacted with the coin.

STONE

Well, I'm skeptical to call the surfaces on this coin "toning", rather it looks like a chemical reaction to what was suggested could be sulfur.
I know the obverse is filled with glare from the light, so I've provided two close-up images which directly resemble the surface of each side of the coin; and they show two die cracks

mrpaseo

electroplate and circulate!

Spray paint?

Barberian

Urine? Maybe it was in a urinal for a hundred years. It could happen.

element159

<< <i>Well, I'm skeptical to call the surfaces on this coin "toning", rather it looks like a chemical reaction to what was suggested could be sulfur. >>


That is what toning IS - the reaction of silver metal with sulfides to form a thin film of silver sulfide. If you apply sulfur powder to a silver coin, the result will not look yellow, rather the coin will be totally black (and badly damaged!) due to a much much thicker film of the stuff. (Don't do that of course - I have tried it once, as a chemistry experiment on a common silver round, it would ruin any collectible coin instantly.)

I don't know what else could make the metal color yellow, alloying the surface with gold would probably work, not that that is what happened here.

JustaRookie

I have many MS Peace Dollars that have a thick "Gold Skin" The composite make up of the planchets used for the later produced Peace Dollars promoted this type of toning. Most colorfully toned Peace Dollars are the early ones. Try to find a later date NT variable colored toned Peace Dollar. I'm not saying that they are impossible to find but they are difficult. I have a 28S that looks like it's real gold. To bad I can't take pictures worth a crap otherwise I would post a picture of it.

lathmach

Gold washed. A form of plating. It's wearing off.

Ray

darktone

<< <i>Gold washed. A form of plating. It's wearing off.

Ray >>



agreed.

sinin1

was the coin ex-jewelry?

it looks like solder on the leaf to the right of E in DIME

I could understand why it was done if it was a necklace or something

Sunnywood

The OP coin appears to have been plated, as it appears the plating is wearing off at the high points. In a separate thread, I will post a mini-dissertation on the occurrence and appearance of golds and yellows in naturally (and artificially) toned coins.

Sunnywood

seemyauction

Stone zoom your Dino in as close as you can on the field area, so we can see the metal flow.


Alan


Some thing like this

TomB

Your images pretty clearly display what a plated and warn coin can look like.

STONE

As was previously stated as being the cause for such color on the surface of this coin, I feel I agree with the idea that this coin was plated.
I don't know why this was done, who did it, or what they were trying to prove or pass off when the individual did this.

What I do know is that it is not ex-jewelry. All the rims and everything else is still intact. (I didn't post a reverse image because I couldn't get a clear shot.
Therefore the "smudge" on the reverse is just an aspect of the reverse die wearing down and causing areas of the coin to look filled in rather than detailed.

Alan asked for a closer-up of the die flow of this coin, and that is what I will post below.
Before I post the images, I did want to mention that I was skeptical of the authenticity of this piece at first due to the color, but after some assessing I believe the coin to be 100% genuine.
The weight matches, the die flow looks proper, and you don't often get die cracks on counterfeit coins like you have with this piece.

mrpaseo

Looking through my collection I found these:





Both hold the same curious "gold" color...

These have seen their share of heat, which is what caused this silve to turn gold.

Ray

66RB

Check out the 'Golden Silver Dollar' collection, too bad it was un-natural

BaseballAbs

Stone has some cool die cracks on that coin, too bad it's been plated. It really is a shame.

shorecoll

Not like the one Stone is showing but I've seen lots of yellow coins that were caused by 2x2s and sunlight for dealers who set up at flea markets or leave coins in store windows.

yellowkid

<< <i>was the coin ex-jewelry?

it looks like solder on the leaf to the right of E in DIME

I could understand why it was done if it was a necklace or something >>



That was my first thought....

ElKevvo

One of my first thoughts was also the 'Golden Dollar Collection'! The owner literally cooked those up in his kitchen in a frying pan IIRC.

K

jhdfla

I'll go with the plating wearing off also. Seems I remember someone toning silver with bleach years ago and the coins coming out completely golden, but I can't be absolutely sure.

This article is a good read:

fake rainbow coins

As is this one, from where the first link came:

coin toning

john

jhdfla

<< <i>The OP coin appears to have been plated, as it appears the plating is wearing off at the high points. In a separate thread, I will post a mini-dissertation on the occurrence and appearance of golds and yellows in naturally (and artificially) toned coins.

Sunnywood >>



Will be looking forward to it

Marauderrt10

yes there is

coindeuce

I could show you a raw Morgan that is the color of urine, from having been dipped in a solution of liver of sulphur. Of course, that is not a natural process.

BigE

There is a certain year Peace dollar that naturally tones yellow-----------BigE

smokincoin

I was an under-bidder on this one on Sunday night. I thought it was interesting.
NGC MS67:

edited to add the pic.

coinman420

i`m with the worn plating crowd. smoeone way back when had access to a plating setup and played with it.

TwoKopeiki

Looks like plating to me, as well.

Here's some 200-year-old yellow toning, while we're on the subject:

ricko

It certainly appears to be worn plating. A flash plate on coins was very common some years back. They were used in belt buckles and as novelty items. That one has seen subsequent wear. Cheers, RickO

crypto79

<< <i>I have many MS Peace Dollars that have a thick "Gold Skin" The composite make up of the planchets used for the later produced Peace Dollars promoted this type of toning. Most colorfully toned Peace Dollars are the early ones. Try to find a later date NT variable colored toned Peace Dollar. I'm not saying that they are impossible to find but they are difficult. I have a 28S that looks like it's real gold. To bad I can't take pictures worth a crap otherwise I would post a picture of it. >>



I am with him.