Why does every 50c Pan Pac have that darn Toning Ring?

JZrarities · July 12, 2009 12:41PM

Seriously.

Anyone have a picture of one, in the original issue holder/box/etc?

jmj3esq · July 12, 2009 10:30PM

have noticed that very often and have no idea what causes it. It is sometimes very attractive.

CaptHenway · July 12, 2009 10:59PM

I too have wondered that for years, with no answer.
TD

ricko · July 13, 2009 12:18AM

It certainly is ugly...... time for a dipping.

Cheers, RickO

stinkinlincoln · July 13, 2009 12:21AM

Were all these in the same type of boxes/holders?

mommam17 · July 13, 2009 1:22AM

I thought it was from the blue velvet original boxes. It held all the pieces from the Exposition.

metalmeister · July 13, 2009 2:07AM

Exposition boxes

claychaser · July 13, 2009 2:14AM

Brandon (poorguy) and LeeG (we miss him!) had some really cool information about how the coins were shipped and packed, and the resulting toning.

Very interesting and informative.

I put one of LeeG's posts to the top.

yellowkid · July 13, 2009 2:22AM

As it is so consistent, it had to have come from the original boxes, IMHO it usually adds to the piece unless you are a white coin person!

JZrarities · July 13, 2009 7:36AM

Anyone have a picture of the Expo Box?

fc · July 13, 2009 12:25PM

it sold a few days ago for 750 big ones.

Bruceswar · July 13, 2009 8:17PM

Killer box!

BillJones · July 13, 2009 9:58PM

A couple of comments.

First, only a small number of the Pan Pac half dollars were sold in those boxes. You had to buy the two fifty dollar gold slugs and then you got the other three coins "for free."

I think that the toning spot have something to do with the contour of the dies. There seems to be a ridge there that tends to emphasize the ring toning that forms there.

<< <i>It certainly is ugly...... time for a dipping. Cheers, RickO >>

Don't do it! The Pan Pac half has rather dull surfaces, and most of the dipped pieces look the worse for it.

TomB · July 13, 2009 11:13PM

I don't believe it is the velvet box that caused this since the pattern is so common yet the coins were sold in greater quantity in small envelopes than they were in those boxes. However, I have no good idea as to why they look like this.

CaptHenway · July 13, 2009 11:15PM

<< <i>I don't believe it is the velvet box that caused this since the pattern is so common yet the coins were sold in greater quantity in small envelopes than they were in those boxes. However, I have no good idea as to why they look like this. >>

You beat me to it. Most of them came out in brown envelopes.
TD

mommam17 · July 13, 2009 11:26PM

In Swiatek-Breens book it says most individual half dollars were sold in small paper envelopes and a very small amount went out in the small plush cases. You guys are right and I was wrong saying the toning came from the cases. Very interesting and odd to me that they would tone with the fine ring from an envelope.

originalisbest · July 13, 2009 11:36PM

I think Bill Jones' theory sounds logical, and for gosh sakes I agree with him -- please don't dip these.

CaptHenway · July 13, 2009 11:49PM

The coins were struck out at the fairgrounds, but logically the planchets would have been prepared over at the Mint itself.

Perhaps, and this is just a wild speculation on my part, they were transported to the fair site in some sort of tube that left a residue of some sort on the planchets. Either the residue spread inwards on the planchets before the strike, or the residue remained on the edge of the struck coins and caused a toning of either side within a certain distance of the residue on the edge.

This is merely a theory. Comments welcome.

TD

shorecoll · July 14, 2009 12:03AM

If you have questions, there's a full set for sale at Stack's on 7/30 with the box. Just buy it and conduct your own experiments.

originalisbest · July 14, 2009 12:11AM

Very interesting theory, and great history too, Capt Henway!

JZrarities · July 17, 2009 2:03AM

BUMP for more great discussion!

LeeG · July 17, 2009 2:52AM

yellowkid · July 17, 2009 3:33AM

So is the consensus we aren't sure???? Very interesting anyhow, thanks everyone.

CaptHenway · July 17, 2009 4:24AM

<< <i>So is the consensus we aren't sure???? Very interesting anyhow, thanks everyone. >>

Yep!

MrEureka · July 17, 2009 4:35AM

only a small number of the Pan Pac half dollars were sold in those boxes. You had to buy the two fifty dollar gold slugs and then you got the other three coins "for free."

There was also a three coin box, which came with the half and the two minor gold pieces. And there's an extremely rare four coin box, which is missing the $50 Round. And then there are the Shreve frames. Not that I think that any of these holders caused the rings.

Now, can anyone think of another coin that exhibits a similar toning anomaly?

MrEureka · July 17, 2009 4:43AM

I think that the toning spot have something to do with the contour of the dies. There seems to be a ridge there that tends to emphasize the ring toning that forms there.

If there is a ridge there, there could have been a minor circular buildup of grease or some other lubricant on the dies. And if that's the case, the foreign element could transfer to the coin, and later interrupt the toning pattern. Then again, I'm completely making this up...

northcoin · July 17, 2009 4:53AM

<< <i>

>>

That envelope is so cool. Little did I know that there once was an "Official Coin and Medal Department." It would be interesting to know more about its creation, importance, duration, and I presume eventual demise or replacement.

Nic · July 24, 2009 7:45AM

The toning ring is cool!

Too many of them to come from original boxes or frames. The envelope holdered coins I've owned or seen had envelope toning ... purple, blue, grey, and gold mixed over both surfaces.

K

Why does every 50c Pan Pac have that darn Toning Ring?

Comments

Leave a Comment