Milk Spots- Are They Such a Big Deal?

BTW guys, my "solution" isn't new. There are videos on Youtube that show this method. And it's not foolproof. If you use a dirty cloth, you could definitely ruin a nice coin. Also, all that this does is remove the haze from around the spot, it does not remove the source, that almost invisible dot in the center of each spot. This means that the coin could potentially respot.

 

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Just so we know it's not just associated with bullion versions, I received an order of 2010-W ASE Proof coins direct from the US Mint that year and several were with spots and fluid-y haze, all were sent back for replacement.

 

Thanks, good shots. So my first reaction is #1 is there something on top of the surface, or #2 is there a "hole" in the surface and we're seeing what's underneath?

I'm surprised that spectrographic analysis didn't nail this problem years ago, they can make individual atoms tap-dance now...

Do you find milk spots on uncirculated coins, or just proofs?

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edit // great photos from you too, krispy

 

Spots occur on both uncirculated and proof coins, but they are most distracting on proofs.

 

If as you say, "No one knows exactly" what the spots are, then how can you suggest these too are not milk spots? Until you get the credit and perhaps the reward money for what they are or what causes them and how to identify them from more than just a shape or lack there of seen in a photo, you no more can suggest these aren't so-called milk spots than I can say that they are related to so-called milk spots.

 

The difference is these whittish spots on proof coins can be dipped away but the spots on ASEs and Maple Leaves can't.

 

The haze you posted on your ASEs are not the milk spots PCGS is offering reward money for.

 

Thirty years ago, did anybody talk about milk spots, or is it a new artifact of the computer age?

Let me take it a step further, IF we agree that it's a fairly-recent phenomenon.

I assume that, thirty-fifty-eighty years ago, most silver coins (including Proofs) were struck from newly-mined silver. Now, maybe the major portion of silver coins are struck from recycled silver (don't know??), and that this fact "changes" the outcome, making coins susceptible to milk spots. Just a theory.

Do we ever see milk spots on 1940 Proof Sets? 1950 Sets? 1955 Sets? Or do all years get them, in varying proportions?

 

Good questions doug5353. From what I've read about milk spots, the current understanding is that it has something to do with the fineness of the silver of ASEs and Maple Leaves as proof coins use an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper and they don't develop the same milk spots that can't be dipped away.

 

Haven't the silver coins in standard U.S. Proof Sets always been 90% silver and 10% copper?

 

Think I may have misunderstood you. The ASE is minted with a .999 silver fineness and are the coins susceptible to the milk spotting that can't be dipped away. The other silver proof coins made from an alloy of silver and copper don't get the same milk spots that the ASEs do as the regular silver proof coinage can have it's blemishes dipped or whipped away.

I'm hoping in 75 years my milk spotted ASEs turn cool colors or become desirable so my future relatives may enjoy them!

 

Then what would be the correct term for them ? Hazing ?

 

They still contain .0007% copper , just nit picking .

 

Nitpick away!

And I think hazing is probably a better term for proofs, etc.

 

You got some before/after examples to back that up?

 

How do they define/distinguish the difference? Please let us know.

 

So Jwt, it is at least theoretically possible that COPPER prevents milk spots, since the only silver proof coin for which dipping** doesn't remove them, is a coin made of 100% silver. Now I would like to soak a milk-spotted coin in copper sulfate solution of various strengths to see what happens.

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**this point subject to the requested proof of this assertion...

 

I'm fairly certain there are Ike dollars out there that have similar haze and spots on them that don't simply come off by dipping them or which have appeared much later the way some milk spots seem to appear. I've don't have any examples in my possession as I avoid buying them due to negative eye appeal so can't share images.

 

Well @doug5353 , I'm not really the guy to answer that question, because I don't know. Like you, I find it interesting that this is a new phenomena and is only seen in .999 fineness silver coins.

To the Ike dollars, it's my understanding that the hazing seen is largely due to the packaging they came in, but maybe an Ike expert will chime in.