first spouse coins with red spots

First Spouse (Louisa) with a red spot on it

I don't think I've seen an example of a first spouse with a red spot, so I thought I would post one that I bought. After I received it from a private party (who inherited it), I emailed him and ended up getting a different FS coin. I was pretty bummed. Prior to sending it back, I did call PCGS and also emailed the photo to the person I was talking to and was told that they wouldn't advise sending it in for grading.

Hope this helps...!

>----> R

Note: the red spot is under the "A"

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

aha the plot thickens. what say now GD? if you send it to ncs they will get rid of the spot. i am now waiting for the slabbed coins to beome spotty especially the 70 ones that will be fun

 

most of the coin mysteries dont get solved because our ace detective gd is missing from the crime scene

 

I still think there's some non-zero probability of residual chlorine (used in the refining process) reacting with sulpher to produce a spot of sulpher dichloride...a cherry red substance in its purest state. Although, I have to admit, I have nothing to base that on other than a WAG.

Rocket...the spot you show is in the frosted area, do you see spots on non-frosted areas...or on Unc coins? ...just curious.

 

yakpoo i can give you all the info you need. spots on 99% coins only buffaloes first spouse proof unc u name it, its got red spots. now the funny part is its toning inside IS so there is something that even IS doesnt protect you against. we were trying to get to the bottom of it but both GD and the gold miner disappeared. and our other expert Joe is pretending it doesnt exist. Over time most of these coins will develop red spots its an oxidation reaction i just dont know what is causing it.

 

I can't. I don't have any gold on my boat, and the modern gold I do have is spot free. Can't help you here -- I have no experience. ...Mike

 

do u have 99.99 % gold?

 

Intercept Shield is (correct me if I'm wrong) designed to absorb sulfur. If it's a reaction based on something other than sulfur, then it could proceed anyway.

People talk about gold being found in millenia-old tombs still shiny. Is that accurate?

 

yes even gold under the sea doesnt develop red spots but thats 90% gold. i have coins older than GD if such a thing is possible no spotting nothing kept in a ordinary box for centuries and nothing happened to them but here comes the so called pure gold and the problems begin

 

I believe you, but I would bet $$ it's not oxidation with gold...maybe something else, but not gold. I've seen a bunch of gold nuggets (large and small)...no red spots on them! ...do you know of any? If so, I stand corrected.

I was thinking chlorine since it's used in the refining process and I wouldn't be surprised if some residue remained in the metal...but if the spots appear sometime after being placed in an IS container, the sulpher dichloride theory certainly comes into question.

I don't know...I'll watch with interest to see what you find out. :hatch:

EDIT:

One more thing, in the picture Rocket posted, the red spot appears to have a dark nucleus, from which the redness (toning) appears to be spreading.

That dark spot isn't part of the coin's design. Could it be some foreign substance that is reacting with the gold...or something within the gold?

 

I have only seen it with this particular coin and in the area shown in the photo... but I do remember seeing
an interesting eBay auction where the seller pointed out that there were 2 red spots on a proof buffalo.
If you go to eBay and in the search window copy and paste in 170591718945 it should show up for the next couple weeks.

 

You have to give the Seller credit for accurately describing the coin! Too many sellers will try to cover things like that up an hope the Buyer doesn't notice before the return policy runs out.

Can't tell much about the spots from the picture, though. I guess I've been exceptionally lucky. I reexamined my gold coins this past week and I don't see a single spot. I have modern FS's, eagles, buffaloes, and Commems...and collector coins going back to the 1830's. Nary a spot.

I had an 1914-s Indian Head half eagle that I "thought" might have been toned. I sent it to NGC and it came back "Improperly cleaned - AU details".

 

"nugget gold" generally averages about 85% purity, unless it is wire in quartz, where the % goes higher, but the specimen value is so high for the latter, few will remove it today.

If someone was going to send a gold coin with a red spot to melt, they might try first to determine if the "spot" is only right at the surface or if goes deeper ( which would indicate contaminate possibilities rather than surface "reaction product".

Jim

 

Well, I hate to admit this, but I think I found another gold FS on ebay but this time this particular seller is not mentioning it. It is auction 150560774508 and the red spot (or so it appears) is under Martha Washington's right ear. You have to look closely at the sellers photos to see it, but I think I see it.... >----> Rocket

 

Are there red spots on any old gold? Not overall color changes, but specifically the red spots. The reports seem to be about recent coins. If it happens to old gold, that's one thing, but the chemistry of gold hasn't changed in the last few thousand years and if it's only on new gold that points to manufacturing or refining issues.

 

Oil is BARELY soluble in acetone. It is not a good solvent choice for the removal of oil. Xylene is a much better option so you cannot say that acetone should remove oil....it probably won't.

 

acetone does nothing biox does nothing

 

come on GD and desert between all of us yakpoo joe and leadfoot plus others who are contributing tot his thread its amazing we are not able to solve this. Thad you are the chemist what gives here?