Toning Coins in Albums?

Senlathiel · October 18, 2003 12:13PM

Because my 7-yr old son is involved in collecting coins with me, I have picked up a few of those thin Whitman coin albums for us to fill up with our change. These things are a piece of junk--for the Nickel and Dime albums I have to force the coins into the slots using a rubber bouncy ball and a hammer... Use your imagination.

It doesn't seem to damage the coins. My local dealer said the Whitman company was bought out by a Chinese company and the folders hadn't been the same since. Anyway, I saw some Danseco (sp?) albums at the coin dealer as well, and I seem to remember hearing on this forum that these albums cause toning over the years. Am I remembering this correctly? I was thinking my son and I could put some nice coins in one, and then by the time he's an adult or sometime they would be toned. Are there any cheap coin folders better than Whitman's that would be good for my son and I to fill up? Which ones tone nicely? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

nwcs · October 18, 2003 12:15PM

Yes, Dansco holders can tone coins. Although the holders produced in recent years won't tone like the ones in yesteryear. Sulphur, an ingredient in paper production years ago, was removed for the most part in modern paper production.

Besides, with true natural toning, the outcome is never certain -- whether a coin will be attractive or not.

GaCoinGuy · October 18, 2003 12:29PM

Hey that rubber ball and hammer idea sounds like the trick! My thumb gets sore pushing coins into Whitman slots.........I like my Dansco cause the coins go in so much nicer, and looking at them all, the whitmans are toning my silver dimes(Merc and Roosie) pretty nicely while the Dansco is starting to tone the silver only slightly.

Senlathiel · October 18, 2003 12:35PM

Just did any Ebay search for Dansco coin albums. There are a million sellers, but usually for the new pages. There are some of the nicer Whitman folders too, at my coin dealers. I may take a closer look at those as well. Looks like toning is a crap-shoot anyway.

Coinosaurus · October 18, 2003 12:37PM

Ya, I think it is very unpredictable how they will tone - would also have a lot to do with the environment they are stored in - humidity level, etc.

Senlathiel · October 18, 2003 12:59PM

GAcoinguy, is it those thin Whitman folders that is toning your coins, or their more "book-like" albums?

edsondl · October 18, 2003 1:51PM

Senlathiel,

If you buy Dansco's go here. He is highly recommended by others and is most likely much cheaper than your local dealer.

Dan

mintluster · October 18, 2003 1:58PM

<< <i>I was thinking my son and I could put some nice coins in one, and then by the time he's an adult or sometime they would be toned.

I really cannot believe you would want to intentionally tone your coins. This is one of the biggest problems I have with toned coins. Although you can argue it is a "natural" process, people are unnaturally and intentionally placing coins in certain conditions for the purpose of creating a tone on it.

This amazes me. Chances are the toning will be ugly, so why ruin a perfectly fine silver coin?

I know I know. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We all collect in different ways.

Good luck on your toning project.

GaCoinGuy · October 18, 2003 2:02PM

It's the little thin folder-type Whitmans.

Senlathiel · October 18, 2003 2:31PM

Mintluster, I think your name gives a good indication on what side of the line you would fall on this issue. While I have never bought any toned coins, I don't think I ever would. I do, however, find the process facinating.

LordM (I think it was him) has a coin wrapped up in newspaper where he is trying to get the lettering to tone onto the coin, and be readable. Can you imagine a toned coin where you can read the date or headline of the newspaper? Toning coins in a album seems like such a small thing compared to the other varieties of toning I've seen around these boards. Could be cool.

Toning Coins in Albums?

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