Is it possible to tone in a slab?

BECOKA · December 30, 2005 4:19PM

Just curious if anyone has coins that were relatively not toned, had them slabbed just to find in a few years they were nicely toned for some unknown reason?

If yes, please post pics. I am trying to understand if it is possible to expose the slab to some elements (temperature, etc...) that may cause the coin to tone. I know the slab limits the contaminents but is it possilbe for those contaminents to enter the slab, and cause a reaction?

p8nt · December 30, 2005 4:37PM

Yes. Coins can tone in the slab. Slabs are not airtight so it is possible to gas (with sulphur) them as well as a few other things. Now, I have never done any of that, and have yet to see pictures, but by principle it seems plausible.

I did however have state quarters turn gold on me. Back when I was doing a registry set of those, I had a few that got that golden look while they were in the slab. The question is, were they going to turn that color anyways? Or did they really "tone" in the slab because of something else I had in my safe?

Bochiman · December 30, 2005 5:01PM

Some "slabs" have a higher propensity for toning some coins.
Take the older PCI slabs and SAE coins. I have some that are toned and have seen some nice ones that I didn't have. They were slabbed as 100% white yet they are toning.....so, over a few years, you can tell they went from 100% white (untoned) to toned.

I am sure others tone as well, just not as dramatically.

BECOKA · December 30, 2005 5:10PM

I wonder about the gold coloring. I have a proof silver rosy that has gotten a golden color. I beleive it is probably since it was slabbed. It is almost even over about 80%. It has been in the same 20 slab holder as others but is the only one to tone.

JSsson · December 30, 2005 6:13PM

I had a silver coin that changed colors while the coin was in its PCGS holder before, so I know for a fact that coins can tone once it's housed in a slab. I don't know about gold coins, though.

PerryHall · December 30, 2005 8:35PM

Many times its a result of a dip that wasn't fully rinsed or other pre-existing contamination on the coin's surface.

fivecents · December 30, 2005 9:41PM

<< <i>Is it possible to tone in a slab? >>

If you submit your coins in the polybags within a polyvynil flip, the sonic sealing process can cause the coin to tone in the slab. Only use mylar flips sans the polybag when submitting to a TPGS.

DorkGirl · December 30, 2005 11:42PM

This Morgan was lightly toned golden around the rims when I bought it about 4 years ago. I was pleasantly surprized when I pulled it out of the bank vault for a visit not long ago, some nice blues and oranges, mostly by the insert, which might be the source for the toning. ANACS holder.....

sleeper · December 31, 2005 12:12AM

Yes, most slabs are actually quite easy get coins to tone once "sealed" inside. There was a Coin World article about the same topic a few years ago. Certified coins were put into a box with "toning agent" and then the time it took each to tone was recorded. Some companies holders did very well resisting toning while other companies holders did very little to protect the coins.

I also know about a private test done by a company that is considered to be a 3rd world grading service by members on this forum. That test had mostly the same results and showed that their product was actually the best on the market for preventing toning at that time.

Andrew

kryptonitecomics · December 31, 2005 12:34AM

Old NGC fattys without the seal to seperate the label from the coin and insert are well known for toning.......the best examples I have would be on these coins....

BillJones · December 31, 2005 12:39AM

One of unfortunate aspects of slab toning is now becoming more common every day. Today there are a number of coins in numismatic circulation that have been “curated.” Among this group are many 1857-S and other gold coins that were recovered from the wreck of the SS Central America and gold, silver and copper-nickel coins that have been “processed” by NCS. Unfortunately the chemical processes that improve the appearance of these coins can be only temporary. The offending spots are removed from the surface, but the “cancer” that caused them continues to lurk under the surface, and often re-erupts any were from several months to a few years later.

Last February I saw an 1857-S double eagle from the SS Central America hoard that gone back to its old copper stained ways. To me the coin looked horrible, but I am getting a general sense that many people seem to view all toning as good toning. Still if you have an eye for what is attractive and what is not, the problems that I have seen with these processed coins are pretty disturbing.

jdsinva · December 31, 2005 12:50AM

Wasn't some board member bammed for proving this assertion?

NumisOxide · December 31, 2005 3:14AM

I bought this Buffalo nickel on Feb-16-2004 from DLRC.

October 06, 2005 was when these two images were taken.

nwcs · December 31, 2005 3:18AM

Absolutely some coins can tone inside of a slab. Most of the time the slabs that caused toning are from third rate companies and some of the older slabs from the top companies.

boyhowdy · December 31, 2005 3:25AM

I had 2 blast white barber dimes pick up a golden tone while encased in NGC slabs.
The slabs were wrapped in a canvas bank bank for a few months.

Steve

topstuf · December 31, 2005 3:34AM

Hey! I was soundly CHIDED for putting slabs in Intercepts.

KNOCK THIS OFF! You could be considered "silly."

Myqqy · December 31, 2005 3:43AM

This franklin was white prior to slabbing in an old green pci holder.........

BECOKA · December 31, 2005 7:31AM

Wow the buffalo and the franky are great examples. Thanks for all of the input.

BOOK · December 31, 2005 7:51AM

I have a 1995 DDO Lincoln in a

slab that grew a big black zit on his chin

Is it possible to tone in a slab?

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