Newly Obtained American Silver Eagle with a story and questions

Hey all,

I have recently obtained a 2007 American Silver Eagle, it's the first of it's kind that I've owned however I'm familiar with them on a basic level. Before I get to the pictures, a little back story.

My Grandmother JUST retired a few months ago at age 86 after working for the Littleton Coin Company for more than 50 years. When she started there they didn't even deal in coins, they were actually only dealing in stamps (Littleton Stamp) then they eventually brought coins on board and it became Littleton Stamp & Coin. Until at some point I THINK in the 80's or early 90's one of the Sundman brothers (I believe his name is Rick) split off and took the stamp portion of the company to New York state. The name of it escapes me at the moment.

I also worked at LCC for a short period of time right after high school. They used to give out numismatic related gifts to employees yearly or for special events. When i was there it was the turn of the Millennium and we all got a Silver 1oz round with a special millennium design on it.

Fast forward a bit to 2007 and the orginal founder of the company Maynard Sundman, who was a very nice guy that I met on a couple of occasions, passed away. Everyone in the company received one of these 2007 ASE coins in one of Littleton's Showpaks.

The showpaks are a neat idea and look cool I guess and allows them to add some information but it's not a good way to store a coin.

So this is what the coin looks like in the infamous showpak as I've received it from my Grandmother. She kept all of these items from LCC but has passed them on to me. There was no additional storage measures taken as far as I know. They were all in a jewelry box I believe (I got a handful of other coins as well)




My grandmother is somewhere in that photo on the back. In any case, I removed the coin from the showpak carefully as to not damage the packaging as I intend to keep it. However I want to store the coin better going forward and I've now placed it in an "airtite" container.

Here's what the coin looks like out of the showpak and before I put it in the air tite.




So I just thought I'd share my little story of this coin and also show you how the coin faired in LCC's showpak. Obviously plenty of air got to it, I imagine the paper contributed to the colors of the toning? I don't know a whole lot about that to be honest.

Also I think this has some milk spots as well? Again, that's new territory for me but particularly in the stars above the eagle, is that a milk spot?

I welcome any and all comments and questions.

 

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I don't know for sure. But Milk Spots is what I'm seeing around IN GOD WE TRUST and down around the date. What I see in the stars does not look like milk spots. Seems more like Tarnish or Toning. Milk spots are usually just that, White spotting on a coin.
Wait for more knowledgeable members to reply.

 

Thanks I kinda thought that also but then spotted that other discoloration also. We'll see what others think, mostly just wanted to share and maybe learn a little while I was at it.

 

Very nice story @Jeepfreak81! Love the coin also, nice toning.

 

I like the story. Keep it for sentimental value. Nice present.

 

worth LOTS more as a memory piece then silver content. You have a solid "gold" memory. For your future info, find out where your grandmother is on that picture. Wait too long NO ONE will know.

 

Very cool. I was overseas in the Army in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. Of course I had no internet to fuel my love of coins. But Littleton filled that void for me sending their envelopes of “coins on approval” every month or so. My thanks to your grandma.

 

Congrats to your grandmother. 50 years at one job is beyond remarkable. They should issue a coin in her honor too.

Gotta love the tucked in tie look

 

Good point I'll have to find out, wonder if I used my loupe if I could find her. haha

That's cool, I think before the internet they probably scratched that itch for many people who otherwise didn't have access to coins.

 

Ok thanks for the explanation on that, knowing that they are actually in the metal of the coin will help me to identify in the future. It is hard to tell from pictures as the spots in your pictures look similar to some on my coin, which is why your explanation helps.

Thanks!

 

I have to learn NOT to drink milk over my coins from now on.

 

What a nice story to pass down to later generations.
Maybe try taking a close-up photo of the company photo so you can blow it up and identify grandma might help.

 

I thought I had read that "milk spots" (nothing to do with milk), were from improper rinse and drying of the blanks. That they were residue from the cleaning solution that was left to dry on the coin. Am I wrong? @GDJMSP stated it was spots in the surface, not on it.

 

Left on the surface of the blank, and then struck into the surface of the coin, right, Doug? Or is that also still uncertain?

 

I knew it had something to do with the striking process but that was as far as my knowledge went, and also that they can't be removed without damaging the coin.

 

If it was certain they would have fixed the problem by now. The wash is the suspect but given its still a problem they clearly dont know for sure

 

I would contact Littleton and ask if they have a blowup copy of the original photo. kudos to you and your grandmother. Good luck.

 

I dont think we'll ever know if someone figures out how to do it. You could make far more money buying them at a discount to resell after fixing them then you would from a reward having to tell everyone else how to do it