ASE Spotting Detection - Any options?

ElKevvo

A recent thread about a MS70 ASE that developed spotting made me wonder if there is a light spectrum or ?? that would reveal the spotting residue. Maybe it would show up at a certain wavelength or ?? Just curious if there are any thoughts on how to identify this on unslabbed bullion silver.

K

asheland

I can usually see them tilting the Eagle under Fluorescent light.

asheland

Same coin, different angles:

ricko

Try UV light... sometimes it works....Though I would not use it as a reliable prediction tool. I think when it does work, the process is already beginning, but just not naked eye visible yet. If you have unspotted ASE's, I recommend an acetone bath. I honestly do not know if this is effective....However, years ago Russ (former well known/respected forum member) recommended this process to me. I have used it, and have not had a milk spot problem on any of the ASE's I purchased from the mint. Cheers, RickO

Smudge

It is just bullion, it is just bullion, it is just bullion, unless a proof. Then worry about spots.

JBK

@Smudge said:
It is just bullion, it is just bullion, it is just bullion, unless a proof. Then worry about spots.

Isn't that what they said about Morgan silver dollars and St. Gaudens $20 gold pieces back in the day?

Granted, there is a huge difference in that SEs and GEs are not meant to circulate. And chasing labels and slabs can seem foolish, but there is a lot about the hobby today that can appear that way at times. The things is, the coins are so darn good looking they are collectable to many people.

Smudge

They are pretty, but I'll never live long enough to see them turn into Morgan's. I like them by the roll.

RogerB

If OP wants to try optical detection, he will need a tuneable narrow band collimated light source used in a darkened room. The surface debris causing "milk spots" might fluoresce only at specific narrow wavelengths.

ElKevvo

@RogerB said:
If OP wants to try optical detection, he will need a tuneable narrow band collimated light source used in a darkened room. The surface debris causing "milk spots" might fluoresce only at specific narrow wavelengths.

Ahhhh...if only I was still in college! As a physics student I had access to a lot of neat lab equipment including an oven (can't recall what it was called) that I would bake Kodak T-Max film in a variety of gasses, looking to identify what the best mixture was that made the film the most light sensitive in order to take the best pictures of celestial objects. That was during one of my non collecting periods but oh boy, could I have had fun trying to tone coins with that setup!

K

RogerB

A warm nitrogen soak seemed best when I did that in high school. Hydrogen created too many ions. Didn't have a telescope but liked to take night sky photos and stitch them together -- still have some of the negatives someplace around here.

topstuf

@Smudge said:
It is just bullion, it is just bullion, it is just bullion, unless a proof. Then worry about spots.

AGREED It is bullion and should be treated as such.

Gluggo

@asheland said:
Same coin, different angles:

Nice Finger Print!