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Why are Columbian half dollars so darkly toned compared to all other commemoratives?

abcde12345abcde12345 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Examples (none are my coins):




Comments

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Old age is one likely reason.

  • ThreeCentSilverFLThreeCentSilverFL Posts: 1,697 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 8, 2019 5:42PM

    I’ll take #3

  • abcde12345abcde12345 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭✭✭


  • JBKJBK Posts: 16,711 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 8, 2019 6:10PM

    Age, and if I had to engage in wild speculation, different storage methods or materials in the late 19th century. Also, maybe more homes were heated with wood or coal (sulphur) back then.

  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I always wondered if it was the original packaging (whatever that was). They also tend to have an interesting green toning in earlier stages...

    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • bsshog40bsshog40 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here's a couple I have. They both have color but really hard to get it to come out.

    -----------------------------------------
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  • thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @3keepSECRETif2rDEAD said:
    ...go down to Columbia for a week or two and see if you don’t come back with a tan ;)

    Columbia, SC or Colombia the country?

    thefinn
  • KkathylKkathyl Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭✭✭



    This one is not that bad. I think it’s just a combo of metal mix and age.

    Best place to buy !
    Bronze Associate member

  • blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @bsshog40 said:
    Here's a couple I have. They both have color but really hard to get it to come out.

    Oh it will come out. A quick dip with the Weimans tarnish remover and they will be good as new. Congrats!

    The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
    BOOMIN!™
    Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,845 ✭✭✭✭✭

    that was always a turn off to me but it is what it is. to each our own

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 37,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    Many sold to non-collecting general public that knew nothing about how to store coins.

    But then Morgan s should have the same issue

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Baking soda, water and aluminum foil will take care of that..... :DB) Cheers, RickO

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,484 ✭✭✭✭✭

    They were made and distributed 40+ years before most other classic commems, stored differently, distributed to a much wider population.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,072 ✭✭✭✭✭

    They are one of my fav Commems. Many nice interesting toners. They were issued decades before most other Commems is one possibility.

    Investor
  • abcde12345abcde12345 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 9, 2019 10:21AM

    @ricko said:
    Baking soda, water and aluminum foil will take care of that..... :DB) Cheers, RickO

  • chesterbchesterb Posts: 988 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Isabellas tend to be the same way.

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 37,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @chesterb said:
    Isabellas tend to be the same way.

    Quite possible that the 19th century paper/cardboard had a much higher sulfur content.

    You also see dark toning arising from leather coin holders. Although I don't know that is an issue here.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • HalfStrikeHalfStrike Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭
    edited November 9, 2019 4:33PM

    .

  • blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @panexpoguy said:
    Yeah, I think I'm gonna crack mine and give it a dip.

    Absolutely, I would in a heartbeat.

    The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
    BOOMIN!™
    Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????

  • thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @CaptHenway said:
    Many sold to non-collecting general public that knew nothing about how to store coins.

    But then Morgan s should have the same issue

    Morgans sat around in bags in bank vaults. They weren't used much in commerce, except in the west.

    thefinn
  • davewesendavewesen Posts: 6,770 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @panexpoguy said:
    Yeah, I think I'm gonna crack mine and give it a dip.

    save the packaging for that guy who collects white labels

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @thefinn said:

    @3keepSECRETif2rDEAD said:
    ...go down to Columbia for a week or two and see if you don’t come back with a tan ;)

    Columbia, SC or Colombia the country?

    Either, ever been to Columbia, SC in August?

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,078 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @panexpoguy said:
    Yeah, I think I'm gonna crack mine and give it a dip.

    Looks like it may have already been dipped at some time in its past.

    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

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 37,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @thefinn said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @CaptHenway said:
    Many sold to non-collecting general public that knew nothing about how to store coins.

    But then Morgan s should have the same issue

    Morgans sat around in bags in bank vaults. They weren't used much in commerce, except in the west.

    Some sat around in bags. Many made it into commerce. Far more Morgans were used in commerce than Columbian halves.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,050 ✭✭✭✭✭

    At least a fair number of these coins were sold in little leather covers, which would darken the coins if they were stored in those for a period of years.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • DMWJRDMWJR Posts: 6,089 ✭✭✭✭✭

    see this thread

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/995858/post-your-silver-commemorative-half-dollar-with-its-original-packaging

    Doug
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 37,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    At least a fair number of these coins were sold in little leather covers, which would darken the coins if they were stored in those for a period of years.

    This is likely the answer. Anyone who has ever seen a silver coin stored in a leather purse is familiar with the dark patina.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • braddickbraddick Posts: 25,000 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Original Pan Pacs will have a deep blue (albeit lackluster at times) tone that is pretty much exclusive to it.

    peacockcoins

  • UnknownUnknown
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  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 33,082 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This does not answer the OP's question, but I thought you might find it interesting. From the November, 1929 Numismatist club meeting report for the Dallas Coin Club.

    Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Author "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," due out late 2025.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CaptHenway said:
    This does not answer the OP's question, but I thought you might find it interesting. From the November, 1929 Numismatist club meeting report for the Dallas Coin Club.

    I love the reference to "many coin celebrities" :):+1:

    Private Mint News | 2010 Lincoln Reverse Finalists
  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Some real nice Columbians!!

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,835 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just wanted to add mine. I bought this from Dr. Bush's collection and the reason is because of its bright & lustrous centers while the outer edges possess delicious toning. I wish @TomB hadn't given up coin retailing. A high integrity and more than fair dealer is a good person to know. I hope he'll relinquish something else from his collection so I can buy it!


    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
  • GoldminersGoldminers Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 24, 2019 10:37AM

    @Catbert said:
    Just wanted to add mine.

    That one is the cat's meow.

    edited to say the sample of your signature Black Dog lyrics are pretty contrary, to Catbert lyrics. LOL

    My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @abcde12345

    Perhaps it is due to your dark glasses.

  • CommencentsCommencents Posts: 349 ✭✭✭

    Not all are toned dark. I have a bright silver one but like my toned MS64 one that's pictured the best.

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 24, 2019 2:13PM

    Deeper blue and red toning hues are pretty common on these too..

    I felt this was a really nice example with sharply pronounced sail lines for what NGC called MS63 back in the no line soap bar holder days.

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • brianc1959brianc1959 Posts: 350 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I really like BryceM's sample and some of the others in this thread, although mine is pretty much straight white:

  • DreamcrusherDreamcrusher Posts: 210 ✭✭✭✭
    edited December 26, 2019 12:43PM

    This is a great question that I have discussed with people who have been in the hobby a long time and are well respected numismatists. I have yet to come across a definitive answer but there are several possibilities and it could very well be a combination of different reasons. The silver used for the coins may have impurities that caused some coins to darken so quickly. Another reason may be the minting process including how the dies were produced and how the planchets were handled. Remember that toning, while beautiful (I own several toned coins) is a destructive process and all toned coins will eventually tone dark to black. The Columbians were the first commemoratives so they have had the longest time to react. I have a very dark Columbian but it has a velvet sort of sheen to it. I have not seen one quite like it.

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