Spots on modern cents from a roll

Got some 2009, 10, 11 and 12 unc cents from eBay that were described as being taken out of a roll. Is it normal that some would have some very small blackish spots on them? I am just starting to collect cents and don't know a lot about how the metal can react. I know they are not proof coins but it seemed like the spots weren't normal. I know pics will help and will get some up later. Thanks in advance.

 

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I can only speak of 09's but this is very common.

 

I have had the same issue. I had never searched unc rolls before, but got 4 rolls of unc 2012 cents recently. I figured that I would go through them and find a nice one for the type collection, but was unable to find a single one that didn't have some type of spotting. Must be some artifact of the minting process.

 

Got a bunch of Lincoln Bicentennial cents from 2009 and a couple from 2010, all from mint rolls, all covered with small dark brown spots/dots.

 

Achoo!
Gesundheit!

 

Wow, ok so I guess it is normal. Thanks for the replies.

 

I haven't seen black spots on 2009s, but 90% of all 2010s and 70% of all 2011s I have seen are full of them

 

Anyone know the causes? Is it the copper plating or the zinc or something else?

 

I liked this comment because human saliva in known to have this effect on copper coins. Hence, the sneeze

 

All I know is that all the spots have a uniform look, only size is the difference between each spot. The worst part is, the spots may be permanently adhered to the coin, however I'm not 100% sure. The zinc plating shouldn't be the problem.

 

Thanks for the info. Sadly I figured they would be permanent.

 

Quick photo of what I got, I`ve seen these spots a lot, must be crappy mint standards.

 

I see these a lot too. Not sure what causes them, but would love to find out.
I was thinking possibly some grease or lubricant from the machines (at the mint, or where the coins are rolled) that are spread over many coins as the coins are rolled and/or moved around. Just a hypothesis, and probably not correct.

 

Again, this is only for the 09's, but I've heard it called "die grease". I thought this somewhat makes sense considering the number of minor struck-throughs of this date, but I cannot say for sure. Either way it is rather unfortunate and seems very poor quality control.

 

Yup, that's them. The new designs on the back was what interested me in them but the spots are definitely a turn off and this may be my last batch of coins.