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Message:: [QUOTE="19Lyds, post: 1948681, member: 15929"]The "REAL" problem are contaminants which might be on the surface of the coin due to skin, spittle, dust, or even the rinse the US Mint uses for the planchets prior to striking. The "slabbed" environment, while not air tight in the truest sense is as air tight as you can get without sealing the coin in a vacuum environment. "Air" or "Gas" does not flow freely over the surface of the coin. However, since "air" or "gas" is not sucked out of the slab while it is being sealed, that air within the slab remains there. This environment can often augment any contaminants on the coin and in some cases, actually increase the possibility of spotting. Folks do realize that a simple sneeze can send millions of "microscopic" droplets of moisture through a room. Each one of these droplets has the potential for contaminating a coins surface. The only method I know of to eliminate or reduce the possibility of spotting is to give the coin a pregrading rinse in either E-Z-Est or pure Acetone remembering that each of these needs to be clean and free of their own contaminents. I have had good success with Silver Eagles using this method. To state that the PCGS Slab is not air tight can be misleading and should actually be a qualified statement that indicates that it is NOT the same as being raw since it is in a somewhat sealed environment. What the TPG's should really do, is to have a "Clean Room" where coins are slabbed. Free of dust and a humidity controlled environment where "sealers" are required to wear "clean garments and hats similar to an operating room environment. The initial set up costs could easily be absorbed into their standard overhead costs.[/QUOTE]

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