Should one always expect to encounter carbon spots on proof coppers?

razorface1027

Any advice/opinions appreciated...

shanks82

I have a few very small spots on some of my proofs in my interceptor shield album so I dont know, I would like some advice also

CarlWohlforth

I have a 1969-S Lincoln in at PCGS for grade review. It has loads of spots and is graded PR 69 DCAM. I have other dates in that grade and I don't expect to see any spots.

ealandg

I am curious about this also. Can you get rid of these without damaging the coin?

grip

ealandg
I dought it very much.
Al

BillJones

Carbon spots appear on a lot of copper and copper-nickel coinage. In fact when one is looking for high grade Proof Buffalo nickels. carbon spots, not hairlines or scratches, are usually the factor that lowers the grade.

You can't always blame the grading services for missing carbon sports. Quite often they form on the coin after it has been slabbed. Contributing factors are improper or "bad luck" storage, and whether or not someone breathed, spoke or sneezed on the coin.

BTW "carbon spots" are NOT from corbon. They are copper oxide spots that form from chemical reactions on the copper.

merz2

I don't have any on most of mine.While I don't like them,until I can find one without I'll hold on to them.

Shamika

Depends on the year. On modern proofs, they are cancer. But on early proofs, you can pretty much expect them.

You can't remove carbon spots from copper without damaging the surfaces. Especially so on proofs. Also, most of these spots are copper sulfide, not copper oxide.