I have recently discovered these on mostly my australian bullion coins, already in ngc slabs. Anything to prevent it? I know that it's a given from improper preperation before striking, but does anything help...why are they developing INSIDE the ngc slab?
It happens but it doesn't usually affect the grade itself. I have milk spots forming on Proof sets, they're ugly for sure, not much you can do without cracking the coin or coins out and damaging the coin further by cleaning it.
I do not believe so, because it was a developing condition. Milk spots did not come slabbed, they actually developed INSIDE the slab over a prolonged period of time in my case.
I also have a related milk spot question. I noticed that toning seems to follow in the same area as the spots. Not at the same time but over time. Not a requirement, but could they be a catalyst for this to happen?
Milk spots ? No. But what a lot of people call milk spots, that aren't milk spots - yes. Just because a spot has a whitish cast to it that does not mean that it is a milk spot. Milk spots are in the metal itself. They cannot be removed, by anything. Even the harshest and strongest of coin dips will not remove milk spots.
Images would be cool. Sure helps to know what you are dealing with. Milk spots have been a big problem with the US silver eagles as well. In my opinion, something in the process of sending coins in for grading, increase the odds of spots showing up. The spots are already in the coin but the change in holders make them start showing. No way to stop it or cure the problem. Some will not agree with me on this.
Then he should claim the reward from PCGS. I believe it is $25,000 fo r the prson who could find a way to do it. Oh wait - you had to do it without harming the coin
Here you go. Problem solved. Maybe. These methods may work, but you have to have access to the coin. http://www.cointalk.com/t200477/
Oh those are great ideas They go right along with the idea of using a belt sander mentioned in the other thread :yes: Small problem though, the coins shown in the video do not have milk spots on them. The coins shown below do have milk spots have on them.
Doug, what are the flaws on the coins in the video properly called? I have usually heard them categorized as milk spots?
People call a whole lot of things milk spots, which is the point of what I have been saying in this thread and the other. If you sneeze, cough, or even exhale hard over a coin, small droplets of moisture often get on the coin. These droplets will be whitish in color once they dry. (but they will change color later) People call those milk spots, but they are not. So what do you call them ? I dunno, call them what they are I guess - spit ? Snot ? But they are not milk spots. Same thing with the coins in the video. Nearly half the coin is covered - that's a spot ? Yeah, I know, picky maybe, but gimme a break. When half the coin is covered by something that is not a spot ! The only reason people call THAT a milk spot is because of the color. So what is it ? It's contamination obviously. And yes it probably got on the planchet prior to minting. And it is, in my opinion, most likely a residue of some sort from the washing process. So if you want to call it something, call it dried soap residue. The thing that differentiates it from milk spots is this - we don't know what milk spots are or what causes them. Milk spots cannot be removed. Dip a coin with milk spots in Tarn-X, one of the harshest and strongest dips there is, and the milk spots are still there. Dip one of those coins shown in that video and the whitish film disappears and is gone forever. Milk spots sometimes appear later, even after a coin is slabbed. But they are also often found on coins freshly obtained directly from the mint. Of course those coins may have been sitting at the mint for a month or so before they were shipped out - we don't know. We only know that sometimes they are there when we first see the coins and sometimes they show up later. But they are always small, often irregular in shape, spots. And they appear to be in the metal itself, not on the metal. Which is why we can't find anything to remove them. With the coins in that video - the stuff is on the metal. Which is why it can be removed. Same thing for spit drops, they can be removed too.
When will the mint employees stop drinking milk and eating yoghurt around our coins and spilling said products on them???? They need to know we are losing patience with them, but unfortunately their union benefits specifically preclude any retaliation for their carelessness...
I have PCGC pr70 dcam eagle I sold and due to not mentioning this on ebay listing she was able to get a refund...one tiny spot was to bad of condition for her, boy is she going to be pissed down the road LOL
Are we talking a Silver Eagle? Post an image please. You do know this thread is over 3 years old? Welcome to the fun.
That is what the experts think. Planchet preparation (possibly old chemicals or poor neutralization). There is another possibility. Some spots may be caused if the compressed air used to blow off the coin and slab parts is contaminated. Milk spots or any other spots or unsightly stains WILL LOWER THE GRADE All major grading services offered a guarantee at one time. I know for sure that there is no guarantee for Silver Eagles that develop spots. I believe the same goes for copper cents. Check on this at the TPGS. The term "Milk Spot" as "coined" decades ago DID refer to ANY white spots commonly seen on silver coins DECADES before there was anything called a Silver Eagle produced. Milk spots seem to EVENTUALLY penetrate into the surface and become harder to remove. In most cases it is impossible but conservation techniques have been developed that can lighten them and make them less visible. I have seen it done. Nevertheless, it's best to leave them alone. The TPGS do not spot coins UNLESS my theory of compressor contamination may be accurate in some cases. Perhaps the original submitter or one of the grader coughed on the coin too. Anyway, it is a provable fact that improperly neutralized coins (after a dip to make them bright) look great at the service but many can become unsightly some time after slabbing. As they should. Why quibble. it's the same picky thing as loss of luster. Who cares what caused it...it's lost. Who cares what caused it...it's a white spot! Only important thing about stains and spots is to know (most of the time) which can be removed and which cannot! YES, then it is a white stain. The white marks on Eagles "jump out" under fluorescent light. True but the accepted "name" for decades is a MILK SPOT. Absolutely true! Thanks for reading my opinions as posting this is more fun than actually working
I would think the TPG's would detail grade a coin if it came to them already with milk spots on them. Their guarantees now no longer cover coins that that "turn" or "go bad" in the holder after slabbing. So no the TPG guarantees will not cover this. they USED to, but they were having to pay out on too many coins that went bad in the holders so they changed the guarantee.
