Need some help AT'ing..

shorecoll · January 24, 2009 5:38AM

Heresy, I know.

I have a couple dozen bright white good Barber halves I bought from an old dealer's estate (sounds like eBay).

I don't want to AT them for color, I just want to knock down the glare. Not to sell, just thought I'd do a G set.

Should I just leave them out in the air on a flat surface, put them in a Wayte Raymond for a few years or bury them in the backyard for a while (don't really want to do that, might corrode them).

Suggestions, other than "Stop, you evil bast##d!" are appreciated.

Thanks.

MisterBungle · January 24, 2009 5:39AM

Been to Taco-Bell lately??

~

lope208 · January 24, 2009 5:53AM

If they are truly nice coins and have not been dipped, why on earth would you want to wear them or at least artificially age them? Just buy a lower grade of Barber at the local B&M.

If they have been dipped, well, then I don't blame you for wanting a more original look.

garsmith · January 24, 2009 6:00AM

"Stop, you evil bast##d!"

Smoeone had to say it

rgCoinGuy · January 24, 2009 6:00AM

Wrapped in a taco bell napkin as mentioned above, or wrapped in a Numismatic News Paper. Set them in a window that gets good sunlight, or in a bathroom cabinet, check on them in a year.

Or so I have read.

JRocco · January 24, 2009 6:03AM

Clean the surfaces with acetone so you know there are no contaminants
that will negatively effect the toning and just put the coins on top of a piece of
furniture for a few years. Don't dust them, let them tone under the dust. Turn them after
a year or two.

rgCoinGuy · January 24, 2009 6:03AM

Taco Bell the Legend Thread

IrishMike · January 24, 2009 6:34AM

Some of the toning you see on coins like Barbers, Seated coins etc resulted from the way they were stored. Many coins were place in envelopes and then stored in wooden boxes, drawers and cabinets. The Mrs. would come along and dust often times using furniture polish. Over the years this caused them to tone. The story was relayed to me 30 or more years ago and I just pooh poohed it. About three years back I had a proof Frankie that developed a nasty and large toning spot from sitting in the cello, so I tried a similar technique. For some reason it works on proof coinage quicker. There are a couple steps I omitted on purpose.

CarlWohlforth · January 24, 2009 6:39AM

For coins that have been dipped out and looked unnatural to me I've tried placing them between a Taco Bell napkin, colored tissue paper, Wayte Raymond album, Whitman folder and printer paper. I was disappointed the Wayte Raymond album hasn't shown any changes at all after more than 2 years on some nickels. On the other hand the Taco Bell napkins showed quick changes on Silver Eagles. So if I were you and I wanted quick changes I'd put them between Taco Bell napkins and check on them every month removing them once they show the first signs of tone.

ricko · January 24, 2009 7:11AM

Here are some tips.... they will work. However, if you want to do it right, you need to go much further... they are then totally accepted as NT....

Cheers, RickO

1) Cigar or cigarette smoke, directed at a coin's surface will produce a light brown tone. Frequent repitition of this proceedure will produce darker browns. (tip-off....smell the coin!)
2) Place a coin in a paper coin envelope, bake for 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven. The coin will be a bit dull, but have taken on shades of purple, yellowish-green, or dark blue. "Over-cooked" coins can appear dull dark gray/blue/black. (tip-off...dull surfaces).
3) A weak sulphur solution, diluted with alcohol or water, will yield gold, golden-brown towns. A stronger solution will yield deep purplish-blue tones. Too strong a solution will yield gunmetal gray surfaces. This is a very deceptive method if "done right".
4) Coat a coin with corn oil, and bake inside a foil wrapped baked potato. A purplish-blue, or orange color will result.
5) Brush a coins with a blend of motor oil and corn oil. Bake at 275-300 degrees for an hour. Deep blue/purple colors appear.
6) Make a solution of sulphur powder and alcohol. The sulphur powder will not dissolve...but that is okay. Dip a coin into the solution, and set the coin on a table. Set the alcohol on fire, and let it burn out. Repeated "burnings" yield varying shades of gold-brown-blue-purple-black.
7) Sulphur ointment (home brew = vaseline+sulphur powder) can be used to retone or touch up copper coins.
8) Coins painted with gun bluing solution can yield various shades of the color spectrum.
9) A coin soaked in dandruff shampoo, for a couple of days, can produce green, yellow, and brown colors.
10) Place a coin into a hot toaster or on a hot frying pan. It will eventually take on a dull gray or black color.
11) Placing a coin in a paper envelope, or plastic holder...or a sealed proof set...in a sunny windowsill for a long period (1 to 3 months) will eventually result in a variety of colors. The coins may look "sick" or faded though.
12) Submerge a coin in a weak solution of sulphurated potash (liver of sulphur) for 5 seconds. Various colors can be had with each repeated dipping.
13) Place an inexpensive gold coin in a jar of "jeweluster " coin dip. Let sit for a couple of weeks. Dipping silver coins in this new "smart dip" will give the a golden tone.

relicsncoins · January 24, 2009 8:21AM

Here is one that I "toned" in a couple of months.

JJ

Here is one in an NGC holder........not by me.

COALPORTER · January 24, 2009 8:51AM

Here's a product called BLACKEN-ITthat gives metal a black 200 year old look. Sold at many hobby/model train stores.

robkool · January 24, 2009 9:01AM

Wrap them up in a Taco Bell (brown) napkin, then place them on top of a water heater. You will get some great results after a few month...

Boom · January 24, 2009 9:05AM

There are several methods depending on the desired effect.

Like with most things, there are some acceptable methods
& some that are just totally wrong.

Just be careful or you can ruin a coin forever in the blink of an eye.

shorecoll · January 24, 2009 9:30AM

Thanks everyone, when I said good, I meant as in G-4. So I'm not likely to hurt them. Nothing quite like bright white BU(as in butt ugly) G-4 coins, but some people must still like them.

notwilight · January 24, 2009 9:48AM

<< <i>Here's a product called BLACKEN-ITthat gives metal a black 200 year old look. Sold at many hobby/model train stores. >>

I've used that for collimation screws that go inside a telescope and you want them to be black. I have some in the garage. --jerry

rld14 · January 24, 2009 9:55AM

shorecoll · January 24, 2009 9:59AM

Just took the kids to TB, guess I'll give that a try.

coinman420 · January 24, 2009 10:06AM

<< <i>Here's a product called BLACKEN-ITthat gives metal a black 200 year old look. Sold at many hobby/model train stores. >>

that is a cold black oxide solution. i work at a plating shop and we do a hot black oxide finish. we have an industrial version of the cold stuff but i never tried either on coins.

Need some help AT'ing..

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