Carbon spots, what causes them and can they be removed?

dlimb2

What type coins do carbon spots appear on most readily...Silver, copper, clad?

ccrdragon

copper, caused by impurities in the planchet, no they cannot be removed w/o damaging the coin

dlimb2

Will all carbon spots cause a coin to be down graded...I can see a carbon spot in the fields would cause a down grade, but say in the hair would it really matter?

mercurydimeguy

How does one remove a carbon spot from a silver coin? Will dip or acetone take it off, or should it be sent to NCS?

Shamika

<< <i>Will all carbon spots cause a coin to be down graded...I can see a carbon spot in the fields would cause a down grade, but say in the hair would it really matter? >>


Unless it's obvious, high grades can still be attained dispite carbon spots. I have a PCGS MS67 Buffalo nickel with a good sized carbon spot on the Buffalo's head. I hadn't noticed until several months after purchase, but I still think it's graded correctly.

mrdq

Carbon spots on Copper can also be spittle. During the course of conversation quite often little bits of spit fly out of your mouth that usually go unseen but the nature of close examination of coins, often while discussing coins, can lead to tiny dropletts of spit on the coin that will turn to carbon spots. Sneezing around coins is a death sentence.

I bought a BU cent collection many years ago that was my pride and joy. Let it sit for 20 years or so in a whitman folder then a couple years ago took it out thinking of slabbing it and 1/3 of the coins were speckled with carbon. I took them to 3 different dealers and they all independatly said it looked like someone sneezed on the whitman.

JUNK was the basic value of the coins now. I took out the 1936 that would easily have been ms65+ if not for the spots all over the reverse and gave it to a 10 year old kid in the shop who was there to buy the most recent State Quarter. THAT was cool. He didn't give a rat's @$$ about the spots on the reverse, he had a coin that was 60 years older than him. I still have the rest of the coins but i've been told there's no hope for recovery.

nwcs

Although you can usually tell between flyspecks and the impurity caused carbon spots. Acetone doesn't affect metal and will have no impact on carbon spots. Dipping can reduce their appearance but has other issues as you know. There are some other chemicals that NCS uses to remove them. But they can come back. Some people used to scratch at the with the end of a pin. BAD IDEA. On gold carbon spots are a sign of authenticity and can be attractive at times (I think).

topstuf

Never buy a copper coin from anyone with big wet lips.

mercurydimeguy

Carbon spots on Copper can also be spittle. During the course of conversation quite often little bits of spit fly out of your mouth that usually go unseen but the nature of close examination of coins, often while discussing coins, can lead to tiny dropletts of spit on the coin that will turn to carbon spots. Sneezing around coins is a death sentence.

I realized that our existence is carbon based, but isn't that a bit extreme

airplanenut

With regard to grade, remember that everything is relative. Like a mark, when a carbon spot is in a hard to see area, it will downgrade the coin much less than if it were in the prime focal area. As as suggested, a spot in the intricate design of hair will downgrade a coin less than if it were right in front of the portrait--it's all a matter of how much the spot jumps out at you.

dlimb2

Gessh, I had forgotten about this thread.

Gemini

<< <i>Never buy a copper coin from anyone with big wet lips. >>

gil

Oh brother, lets please not relive the Lincoln experience again. I did find out that pcgs has what they call a "spot review". Customer service said that if they determine the "spot" can not be removed safely they will pay the value of the coin.
I didnt know there was a safe way to remove spots ?. Eespecially on a proof. I did tell them it was a carbon spot and I was told they can be done also. No charge for the spot review just s/h.

I'm not going to do it but maybe info for somoeone else here.

Bochiman

<< <i>Oh brother, lets please not relive the Lincoln experience again. I did find out that pcgs has what they call a "spot review". Customer service said that if they determine the "spot" can not be removed safely they will pay the value of the coin.
I didnt know there was a safe way to remove spots ?. Eespecially on a proof. I did tell them it was a carbon spot and I was told they can be done also. No charge for the spot review just s/h.

I'm not going to do it but maybe info for somoeone else here. >>



How much is the "spot review"?
I think you should go for it Gil....take one for the team

mercurydimeguy

<< <i>Gessh, I had forgotten about this thread. >>



I revived the thread when I was looking for some answers on how to remove a carbon spot (a sizeable one) from a silver coin. It's in a PCGS 65 holder, but the spot is just there -- in your face.

I think the spot review will be pointless...so if I could get it off myself I'd crack it.

Doesn't seem like there is a way, though

DennisH

Are you sure the carbon spot on your silver coin isn't actually an impurity (chunk of crud) in the metal, caused by inadequate mixing of the silver when it was molten? Those are somewhat common in silver dollars.

mercurydimeguy

<< <i>Are you sure the carbon spot on your silver coin isn't actually an impurity (chunk of crud) in the metal, caused by inadequate mixing of the silver when it was molten? Those are somewhat common in silver dollars. >>



I don't know? Wouldn't know how to know? Maybe I'll take some pics and post for input?