To open or not to open

So, that white haze that's so common on modern US proof dollars, and that's already prominent in the OP's photo -- reaction with Mint packaging materials, or reaction with residue left over from the manufacturing process?

 

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Huh. I would've said "circulation".

 

Packaging materials. QED.

 

Albums are just fine for circulated coins, if treated gently and carefully. I am not a fan of albums for Unc or Proof coins, because the risk of damage is too high.

 

There is no one reason coins "go downhill". So much depends on your locale and how you handle (or don't handle) your coins in their storage. Some places, albums are a HUGE mistake. In others, not so bad. Multiple factors combine.

 

I disagree that blue silver Ike haze is related to normal toning. If it were, thiourea dips would remove it. They do not. Ipso facto, they are NOT the beginning of toning, but something apart.

 

Never tried MS70, but thiourea doesn't touch it. The very same thiourea dip DOES remove every TRACE from other proofs, but does not touch Ike haze.

Any idea what's IN MS70? I refuse to use anything that I don't know exactly what's in it.

 

I just bought a dansco Album for my Susan B's. Could either of you, @V. Kurt Bellman or @GDJMSP , post a link to a thread where it was hashed out well or care to summarize it here? I bought the album because it looks fantastic and I think it would make a great display for the coins. I do not want to cause damage though.

 

Hmm. I never did an album for the Susie B's. The spacing just looked dumb to me. I have the whole set in Eagle 2x2's. Too short a set to do otherwise, IMO.

 

I'm not familiar with this dip, but what I've read says it's bad news. Can you please elaborate on it?

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/2013/12/silver-dips-unrecommended.all.html

 

I figured I would start there and branch out. I would like to use only the Dansco Albums as I find them most attractive but the little back and forth going on about how albums were bad grabbed my attention. I'll have to try to find a thread on that.

 

I agree with that article and use none of them. I use an Eastman Kodak stain remover intended to de-stain darkroom textiles and fine clothing. It uses NONE of the acids spoken of in your linked article. "Sulfuric, formic, hydrochloric and phosphoric acids". Mine uses citric acid and is very gentle. I have never had a coin rejected as overdipped, even though it removes all toning given enough time, including a dip time of over 30 minutes once.



I then often dilute this farther with water. This is a slide from one of my 6 Money Talks given at ANA conventions, including one when they were called Numismatic Theater talks.

Because y'see, there are OTHER people who have turned a few laps around the old Brickyard other than just our moderators.

 

I completely agree with you about circulated coins. For a novice, it's Certainly better than leaving them in the PVC flips and tossing them in a box or drawer

I get a kick out of the " no albums" mantra. It reminds me of the old HS health teacher telling you that taking that first puff of an illegal plant will turn you into a raging drug addict.

I agree that some coins can be damaged by albums but can't they also be damaged by flips and in slabs if they aren't properly stored?

I still have some Lincoln's in a Whitman folder that came in a Sears coin collecting kit that I got for Christmas in the early 70s. The coins still look fine

What's next? Telling people not to use acetone because one scientific paper showed that small amounts of copper acetate could form if you allowed the acetone to completely evaporate after soaking pure copper for long periods of time?

 

#MeToo! Oh wait, that's used wrong again. Now, imagine that folder having spent those same 40-some years in the least coin-friendly atmosphere you know of. That's why I say there is no one best, or worst.

 

I put a set of these in a Dansco when the coins came out. The MS coins have started to tone yellow along the edges but still look nice. The proofs look pretty bad. Haze and spots from the cardboard dust.

 

Thank you, very informative and I've saved that photo. Do you use it on copper and nickel coins as well? I've had some issues with dipping copper coins in pure acetone. I might be submitting some coins to NGC here in a couple weeks and I'd like to give them a quick rinse before sending them off. I'd be happy to hear your recommendations.

 

I agree. Who puts proof condition on packaging?

 

I agree, who legitimate puts that on packaging?