Strangest thing...check this out?

This is Rich with Coins Since 1994 again; we purchased a huge box of American Silver Eagles (2017w) from the United States Mint and many of them have these black spots on them. Typically we would think of something such as this, as corrosion but if you take a closer look, it almost looks like weld-marks or some other chemical process.

Does anyone have any ideas regarding the cause of these? Is this a 'mint error' in your opinion or something different? Any input is appreciated!

 

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Weird! Give it the slide test with a magnet. I know it's the mint, but you never know. Otherwise, it looks like mildew or rust. Long ago there was a problem and it wasn't with silver.

 

I would send them back. That's just not cool.
Proof coins should be brilliant from the mint.

 

looks like carbon spots...
from google: These dark brown to black spots appear on both copper (including bronze) and silver coins (including silver clad). These are formed, not with contact with carbon, but contact with sulfur from the environment. ...

 

Looks like a sneeze job.

 

Why would they ship something like that?
Don't they have any quality control?

 

You'd be surprised what makes it out from them sometimes. That's one reason why a lot of people are happier to pay a few dollars more on the aftermarket and not have to deal with them

 

Please show us an image of the whole coin.

 

If Doug's theory is correct (and it makes sense. That ASE looks like it was in a nasty environment) that could be black mold. Send them back for sure.

 

Guys -- these marks are the exact same thing as wielding splatter, so call that whatever you will in coin speak. I have seen one of these up close and am 100% confident in that assessment. And for a proof coin to have that-- it also had to have happened at the US MINT, so in my honest opinion it is also a mint error.

I hope that helps !

 

I like the sneeze theory, but what Doug says is also quite likely

 

tell me this is not a wielding type marks -on the large spot at the top you can even see the heat ring difference - & its the same type 2017 Proof coin- so I am sure my marks are the same as others from this proof run. I have another with these obvious wield type splatter marks but the picture is not as clear as the large splatter mark and ring on this coin.

 

When you have a speck of decaying organic matter (such as from a sneeze) on a coin, the acids and other decay products spread out radially from the center of the speck and create the "bulls-eye" pattern seen in at the top in the last image. I'd say someone sneezed.

 

Silver is a very reactive metal. A sneeze; mildly acidic liquid droplets; Hydrogen sulfide occurs in a lot of natural processes; grease spatter in a kitchen, or from a manufacturing process; aerosol cleaning solvents or lubricants around mint equipment. The list can go on and on. The spots aren't heat related, they are toning (corrosion) of the silver

 

keith koins, posted: "Tell me this is not a wielding type marks -on the large spot at the top you can even see the heat ring difference - & its the same type 2017 Proof coin- so I am sure my marks are the same as others from this proof run. I have another with these obvious wield type splatter marks but the picture is not as clear as the large splatter mark and ring on this coin.[/QUOTE]

You can call it anything you wish. "Welding Spot" is a great term as I can close my eyes and "see it" - a discolored bluish spot with a reaction ring.

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A WELDING SPOT! Additionally, there is a trillion to one chance this happened at the mint.

 

Well - I'll take that bet at a Trillion to one. One Gold Eagle Long Please.

And with all due respect, I know I have the unfair advantage of magnification in looking at this coin and another with the same type of spots and having wielded a day or two in my life and knowing what that looks like how it reacts. One of the spots actually has a raised piece of metal in the middle of the spot with the discolored ring from the heat of this splatter. I will see if I can get a magnified picture that shows that clearly. With that said these spots are 100% due to and from some type of heated metal splatter on the coin - period end of story.

So with that said --if this occurred during or after the striking process is it a Mint Error ??

Regards --Keith

 

no

 

It's just damage. Not an error. The mint would never be welding around coins. If you look at a lot of proof Silver Eagles, you will find this same look.