My very first question on CoinTalk (I'll bake the cake later), but in the meantime, does anyone have an idea on what causes this type of effect? Error? Environmental? Whacky scientist in basement playing with coins and chemicals? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you. Are you saying that pcgs has that effect listed as an environmental? I didn't see it anywhere, but i'll check again...THANKS!
I sent a coin to them and it came back environmental damage so if you watch the video on environmental damage on YouTube it explains it
Thanks....I was just reading pcgs grading policy. That explains a lot of other questions I have too. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I'm leaning toward the basement chemist option. Where do you FIND these? I look at EVERY coin I ever get in change and I'm 63, and I've never seen some of these wild chemical creations in commerce. Must be not much to keep people entertained where this happened.
I have seen that sort of surface damage on coins that have been recovered from sewers. Why it should form that pattern I'm not sure unless the coin was covered with a layer of "muck" that subsequently dried and cracked (you can see a similar type of cracking pattern in dry earth) and then was resubmerged in a corrosive environment. The caked on muck would tend to protect the surfaces it covered while the exposed areas in the cracks could than be eaten away.
EW....is right. Yes, everyone has been so helpful and agrees that it is environmental. For some strange reason, I'm glad it is. I kind of like the thought of that crazy scientist (who looks like Dr. Brown of course), sitting over a batch of gooey stuff and dipping away...now I can stop obsessing over that one and go on the the next learning lesson... Thanks to you all for your help and advice.....
