.44 Cap & Ball Gold Plating trouble.

[Rookie_Rover]

My uncles has a .44 C&B Replica made in the mid 90s, I am not certain of the manufacturer.

He was telling me the other day that he removed it from the box to show it to one of his friends when he noticed that the gold plating on the hammer and cylinder had started to peel and fall off.

The gun has never been fired, and it stays in its original styrofoam packaging. What can be done to stop the gold from falling of the gun? Any help will be greatly appreciated.