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Is Intercept Shield adversely affecting .9999 gold coins?
botanist
Posts: 524 ✭✭✭
Three different posters recently referred to this possibility in the following thread about toning of gold coins: LINK However, that topic seems not to have been followed up on and I think it really deserves a thread of its own. There indeed might be something inside Intercept Shield boxes and/or holders to cause toning by reacting with either the gold itself or with the .0001 of whatever the gold is alloyed with. I've now seen an example of the discoloration myself, in a 2008 gold American Buffalo, a discoloration also evidently acquired during storage in Intercept Shield, and strongly suspect it is affecting the actual gold because of the way it seems to prominently spread over an appreciable surface area.
Whether or not the toning is undesirable, and to what degree, is another matter for possible discussion. My own feeling is that the so-called toning, resulting in areas and streaks of orange-brown where it was gold-colored, is of adverse visual impact.
Whether or not the toning is undesirable, and to what degree, is another matter for possible discussion. My own feeling is that the so-called toning, resulting in areas and streaks of orange-brown where it was gold-colored, is of adverse visual impact.
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You might need the opinion of Mr. Spud (is he still here??) - he was instrumental in my wood putsch of years ago which ultimately had the intended effect. He knew Intercept product inside and out. Perhaps a PM to the Spudman will help you. He also had a decent grasp of chemistry and the books and articles by White and Maltby and so on. Spudman should have an answer or point you in the right direction. Bored? Search for "wood boxes" and read away - lots of good info there from Spud...and me too
Best,
Etic
<< <i>Three different posters recently referred to this possibility in the following thread about toning of gold coins: LINK However, that topic seems not to have been followed up on and I think it really deserves a thread of its own. There indeed might be something inside Intercept Shield boxes and/or holders to cause toning by reacting with either the gold itself or with the .0001 of whatever the gold is alloyed with. I've now seen an example of the discoloration myself, in a 2008 gold American Buffalo, a discoloration also evidently acquired during storage in Intercept Shield, and strongly suspect it is affecting the actual gold because of the way it seems to prominently spread over an appreciable surface area.
Whether or not the toning is undesirable, and to what degree, is another matter for possible discussion. My own feeling is that the so-called toning, resulting in areas and streaks of orange-brown where it was gold-colored, is of adverse visual impact. >>
I would say that regardless of how nice the result might be in the end, a box sold as an anti toning device producing toning is by all means undesirable.
I would be surprised if this were the case but I will enterain anything thses days. I believe gold to be pretty inert? My research and data was about copper and silver mostly. I am all ears!
Best,
Eric
Intercept shield is just a vapor barrier that keeps outside air in and inside air out so it implies that the toning is caused by something inside that IS concentrates by doing it's designed function of vapor sealing.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Seems a bit far fetched to blame the box for the tone on a sealed coin. If my slabbed coins are that susceptable to outside environmental factors I'm going to be pretty dissapointed. I hope I Shield comments in this thread.
<< <i>What is being discussed here? Slabbed coins or raw coins in the box.
Seems a bit far fetched to blame the box for the tone on a sealed coin. If my slabbed coins are that susceptable to outside environmental factors I'm going to be pretty dissapointed. I hope I Shield comments in this thread. >>
Slabs are NOT air tight. When the barometric pressure increases, air enters the slab and when the barometric pressure drops, air leaves the slab. There is a constant and continuous change of air within the slab.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
While pure gold cannot form a stable oxide layer, it can react with certain types of chemicals (especially ones that contain sulfur atoms)---the chemical literature contains many reports of thin films of organosulfur compounds on gold surfaces.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Any way, I have US Mint 1/10 Oz AGE coins purchased raw by me, slabbed by PCGS, stored in Intercept slab boxes and they are toning.
Not sure why, so I'd be interested to see what come to light.
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Lance.
<< <i>I have the original dated gold buffalo in mint packaging and it is developing copper spotting. There has been threads on this is well. I don't think it is the IS >>
Just to keep the thread on topic, copper spotting is different than toning. Copper spots are localized spots where the toning we see is generalized orangish toning. --Jerry
<< <i>
<< <i>I have the original dated gold buffalo in mint packaging and it is developing copper spotting. There has been threads on this is well. I don't think it is the IS >>
Just to keep the thread on topic, copper spotting is different than toning. Copper spots are localized spots where the toning we see is generalized orangish toning. --Jerry >>
Is one more desirable (or less undesirable) than the other?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>What is being discussed here? Slabbed coins or raw coins in the box.
Seems a bit far fetched to blame the box for the tone on a sealed coin. If my slabbed coins are that susceptable to outside environmental factors I'm going to be pretty dissapointed. I hope I Shield comments in this thread. >>
What we are talking about here are PCGS slabbed coins in Intercept shield slab protectors.
Slabbing coins doesn't necessarily stop toning.
IS doesn't seem to prevent toning and can actually accelerate it.
--Jerry
<< <i>What we are talking about here are PCGS slabbed coins in Intercept shield slab protectors.
Slabbing coins doesn't necessarily stop toning.
IS doesn't seem to prevent toning and can actually accelerate it.
--Jerry >>
I've actually gotten rid of all IS products after seeing what it does to copper.
Seems a bit far fetched to blame the box for the tone on a sealed coin. If my slabbed coins are that susceptable to outside environmental factors I'm going to be pretty dissapointed. I hope I Shield comments in this thread.>> - Joz350
That slabs are not airtight should be known by every collector! There was a most informative thread here a number of years ago that showed coins toned in slabs that were reslabbed w/o problem if memory serves - some complete set of modern bullion coins - 50 matching toned coins or so - all AT and all slabbed by some grading company. If this thread is still here I know not, but it was very interesting. Mark will remember I am certain.
<<The buffalo was in one of the big Interect shield cardboard slab boxes that stores about 40 coins inside a safe( with dessicant packs )in an air conditioned room. >> - drfish
Ah. What else was in the safe? Paper? Other? Humidity is certainly not the only enemy in a concentrated environment (a safe). Wasn't it the rinse or something causing this on these issues anyway? Mr. Spud, where are you?
Best,
Eric