Can you (naturally) add a dark tarnish look to old worn coins?
FredF
Posts: 527 ✭✭✭
I haven't been super excited by continuing on with my main collections, but yet I enjoy going to the local B&M every couple months. I always want to buy something when I'm there, and lately I've been grabbing an AG-G Barber quarter just because. I have a look I prefer, which is lots of tarnish in the fields and worn and thus somewhat shiny devices.
Here are three examples of coins I have. Sorry for the lighting - this was a camera photo under an array of white LEDs. Overall, the 1916 is the one I like the best. The 1896 has the extra toning on the face, but it's not bad. The 1906 I really like how dark the toning is around the edges, but it looks as if someone took an eraser and wiped out some of the toning on the inside of the coin. (The reverse has the dark toning all throughout).
The question - I'm not interested in adding rainbows or such to the coins, I just want them to darken. I have left the coins out in the air, but I'm assuming that there must be a hundred years of accumulated oils on the coins that are protecting them. And no way am I going to take any action to remove any of the color, so no dipping/cleaning, etc. No intent to ever grade these or anything, they are inexpensive coins that I have sitting out on my desk.
Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins
Comments
The 1916 looks like someone might have boinked it at one time, but the 1896 and 1906 look original. As for your preference, I would suggest buying coins that look the way you want them to look and not worry about how to "artificially-naturally" tone them to your desired state.
By the way, Barber coinage is cool.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I agree, even when dealing with $10 coins, that buying them the way that I like them is preferable. Issue is that I like walking into the store and walking out with a coin because if I'm going to spend 15-20 minutes looking through inventory I want to compensate the dealer for the entertainment value I got out of being there.
Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins
you could try this - I wouldn't call it natural, but if you wanted you could use organic
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zzn2twLGgzs
All the fast toning methods result in substandard look of the coin. The sulfur rich holders like Wayte raymond still available by other companies may be worth a try but don't expect fast results.
Everyone complains about doctored coins, and then looks for ways to doctor them......
Cheers, RickO
I love the Barbers too, and for my taste the 1906 has "the look". Buy them how you like them, because it's your hobby, right? The other two can't be made to look like that one.
Yeah the whole "artificial toning is bad" thought did cross my mind. I guess part of my issue with AT is the motive of the person doing the toning. If it is to buy a coin and try to turn it into a more expensive coin to profit, IMO that's different than turning an inexpensive coin into ... an inexpensive coin that toned more.
Right now, the coins are just sitting out on my desk, not put away or anything. Hopefully just sitting out exposed to air will help them age
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And yes, I agree with buy them how you want them. However, one of the issues I had with my regular collection is that the longer I worked on it, the pickier I was getting, and picky to the point that I just wasn't finding anything any more at a price I was willing to pay. So part of it is that walking into a B&M, buying a coin in part just to support their business, trying to be less picky about what I buy. I know that a B&M is a tough business, but these are nice people, they have engaged with me politely whether I'm buying $50 worth of stuff or $5 worth of stuff. So some of this is like therapy, where I just have to learn to accept some things that aren't perfect
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Thanks for the comments guys
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Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins