Help Please, Silver Coins changing colors

[samuel_schumaker]

I havent been detecting in months do to the heat and dry conditions, it cooled off and i was looking over my finds from earlier this summer and spring, all my silver coins are turning a blueish color, i dont know why, i used water and a small amount of dish soap and just lightly cleaned them, i hadnt looked at them for awhile but all of a sudden they are looking dull almost like clad and have this blue tint to them. Whats causing this? They are just laying in a small cabinet on a shelf in the dark. Any help would be great, Thanks, Sam

 

[jabbo]

My silver coins do the same thing more often than not. So does silver plated spoons, forks, and silver jewelry. I guess you could use silver polish on them.

 

[Ism]

You have sulphur water? That'll do it.

 

[samuel_schumaker]

I guess its possible, i just have rural water service, Its kind of weird cause the big walking liberty half and couple of rosies arent doing it, but the newer washington silvers look terrible almost like they were in a fire and they were the cleanest of all of them, the bottom sides arent barely changing either. i hope i can get them back to normal look somehow

 

[Tom Slick]

Just use a little baking soda and water. Make a paste and rub the coins between your fingers with it. Wash, dry and don't touch them if you can help it. The oil in your skin makes them tarnish quicker.

 

[chuck ky]

i've had silver rounds do that. usually they were just laying some where in the house i believe the air does it

 

[Rick N. MI]

Blue toning is nice on silver coins. Have you seen photos of old uncirculated coins in magazines. It's toning and you don't want to remove it.

 

[Critterhunter]

If the coin has no value other than it's silver content then I clean it with baking soda and a little water between my fingers. Shines them up real nice.

Those coins might have been in very low oxygen enviroments when you dug them. I've heard of silver coming out of the ground in very wet/lacking oxygen environments nice and shiney and within hours will turn purple.

 

[marcomo]

Samuel, I'm guessing your silver doesn't look like Rick's silver dollar. Any chance you could post pictures?

PS - Definitely do not use baking soda, silver polish or other abrasive cleaners on any silver coin worth more than bullion value.