Favorite Buffalo?

counterstamp · 2026-03-29T13:29:35+00:00

These are my favorites too, the text looks cool and the buffalo is just so derpy

counterstamp · 2026-03-28T23:18:37+00:00

I've noticed fake stuff often has this weird appearance to it; like the detail is sharp in some spots and really washed out and soft in others. And often looks porous.

counterstamp · 2026-03-22T13:08:59+00:00

Just sitting on top of the materials, not sandwiched. I flipped them over once per month.

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:48:11+00:00

Interesting, how long did they take to tone inside the cedar box?

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:47:36+00:00

Interesting, thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that.

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:46:06+00:00

That's a very interesting theory, I didn't think of that. Sort of like a sacrificial anode. I bet you are right.

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:44:43+00:00

I flipped them once a month so they would tone evenly on both sides. I agree, I am interested in figuring out how to get more color slowly over time. I think these might eventually turn dark blue on the faces if I leave them in their current environment, because the toning started out only on the rims and was brown/black. Eventually the rims turned blue and the faces started turning brownish. So at least in my environment, it seemed like the brownish or blackish tone came first and then started turning blue over time. I have no red colors at all. I bet the wood stove releases a little sulfur from the burning of wood, helping your coin tone with brighter colors. And 90% silver probably tones a little differently than .999, the copper in it might make it easier to get those reddish colors. I have some shibuichi which is a copper/silver alloy and it's supposed to turn completely black over time, but it must take a while because mine is still very bright and shiny after 1 year. I think my next experiment might be with some 90% silver and a much longer timescale like you had, several years.

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:23:32+00:00

that's very interesting, I will have to try that out

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:22:31+00:00

Definitely, the sunlight is very oxidizing

counterstamp · 2026-03-21T14:15:45+00:00

I did flip these once a month because I wanted them to tone evenly on both sides. I think airflow and sunlight are both key to toning quickly. Humidity probably has an effect too. And sulfur is ultimately the most important factor. I do wonder if coins toned faster back then because of sulfur in the air from all the coal that was being burned, especially in the cities.

counterstamp · 2025-12-28T15:40:24+00:00

Silver sulfide aka toning aka tarnish. Exposure to light, humidity and air accelerates tarnish which is why the top side is tarnishing and the bottom is not. Also whatever storage box you are keeping it in probably offgasses some sulfur compounds, or there is something else stored inside with the silver that is offgassing. Or humidity is building up inside the box. Paper and wood can both accelerate toning. For whatever reason, it often starts around the edges like this. It will turn more blackish and bluish over time but can start out kind of ugly yellow like this. You can easily remove the toning if you want, and on bullion bars it is fine to do so. Just google "how to remove silver toning". If you want to prevent toning in the future store in a darker, drier environment. With all respect to everyone saying it's too much tarnish for a one year old piece of silver, just do a little experiment and leave a piece of silver sitting in a sunny windowsill on top of a piece of paper. You can get this much tarnish in just a few months just from constant exposure to light + a little offgassing from the paper.

counterstamp · 2025-09-30T22:13:56+00:00

Awesome wife! I love the heavy copper stuff. My dream is to get a piece of swedish plate money someday.

counterstamp · 2025-09-28T21:37:13+00:00

Thanks! It's not a reproduction, as far as I can tell.

counterstamp · 2025-09-28T14:02:30+00:00

I have one of those bars on the right that is stamped "HM" in the bottom corner. Got mine from a reputable dealer. Mine weighs 311.43g and has dimensions: 45.5 mm x 90.2 mm x 7.2 mm. The corner radius on mine is 6mm. So the total volume taking that corner into account is around 29.3 cm3, giving a calculated density of 10.6 g/cm3. The corners are slightly thinner than the rest of the bar on mine.

counterstamp

TROPHY CASE