Will gold coins stored in envelopes tone?

Will gold coins stored in envelopes containing some sulfur tone in time?

Gold is an inert metal that doesn’t rust or tarnish when exposed to air or water. Since most gold coins struck for circulation contain other metals, these metals may react to the environment if they are near the surface of the coin.

Will gold bullion coins such as the Gold American Eagle tone if they are stored in paper or cardboard holders that contain sulfur?

Gold bullion coins including the GAE, Canadian Maple Leaf, Austrian Philharmonic and others are typically 0.999 fine or better. This near-pure gold is inert and for that reason will not tone under these conditions.

I have a Brilliant Uncirculated $5 half eagle that has what I would call an orange peel color, yet another BU half eagle in my collection has a brighter surface color. Can you explain why?

U.S. gold coins struck for circulation through 1933 are 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. This orange peel you see is the original mint luster. There are a significant number of Brilliant Uncirculated U.S. gold coins that have been ‘dipped’ in a chemical to remove carbon specks caused by the copper. The orange peel identifies coins that have not been dipped in a chemical to remove such specks.

I examined my gold coin under magnification and noticed the orange peel mint luster color appears near the date and in the legends, but not on the design elements. Can you explain why?

Your coin has been cleaned at some time in its past. The cleaning was not consistent and whomever did the cleaning didn’t get into all the crevices.

What does the term auction sniping mean?

Auction sniping takes place when a bidder waits until the last possible moment a bid can be placed in an e-auction in an effort to block any possible higher counteroffer from another bidder.

Does auction sniping software exist?

Just as with stock market buys and sells, programs exist through which an individual or a business could exercise auction sniping without having to be actively involved at the moment the bidding ends.

Is there any software auction houses can use to counter auction sniping?

‘Captcha’ software makes bidders prove they are not a robot by identifying a sequence of letters or by solving some problem. The speed with which someone can place a bid becomes a problem when this software is in place. I am unaware of this software being used in any numismatic auction.