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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Troodon, post: 322845, member: 4626&quot;]I haven&#039;t had this problem with any of the proof sets since 1999.&nbsp; In fact the proof sets in their original packaging before that (oldest I currently own is 1972) doesn&#039;t have that problem either.&nbsp; Either I&#039;m just lucky, or the packaging is pretty good at protecting the coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>However if the planchets were improperly washed or the coins were somehow contaminated prior to them being put in the packaging, you could get the problems you&#039;re describing (proof American silver eagles have especially been known to develop &quot;milk spots&quot; when the cleaning agents used on the planchets weren&#039;t completely neutralized).</p><p><br /></p><p>Are they toned, or chemically contaminated?&nbsp; Yes to both, as they technically mean the same thing.&nbsp; &quot;Toning&quot; is in chemical terms, light corrosion, and is damage.&nbsp; The fact that if it&#039;s subjectively attractive it can actually add to the value is something that mystifies me, as you&#039;d know if you read enough of my posts lol...&nbsp; If the toning is seen as unattractive it will probably lower the value.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you see this happen early enough that you can still return it to the Mint, I&#039;d do so... probably too late for older sets though (I think the Mint only accepts returns within a year?&nbsp; Maybe someone here knows the time limit on that.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Once you dip the coins they&#039;re not original anymore and some people wouldn&#039;t touch them with a 10 foot pole.&nbsp; However if done properly and carefully they could actually improve the appearance of some coins (would never do it to copper coins though).&nbsp; If you only plan to keep them in your own collection it doesn&#039;t really matter what you do, but coins can&#039;t be undipped so keep in mind you&#039;re permanently changing the coin when you do this.</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;d leave them alone as long as the toning isn&#039;t hazy and unattractive.&nbsp; But you might want to break them out of their packaging and put them in more stable packaging to prevent further deteriation.&nbsp; I&#039;d only dip them as a last resort (make sure you do it properly, and neutralize them properly) and if you don&#039;t intend on ever reselling them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please note that you&#039;re asking very subjective questions and I&#039;m sure people here will have a range of opinions on the subject so don&#039;t take any one person&#039;s view on this as solid objective truth... and in the end the decision is yours.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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