Eagle milk spots.................a curse!!
frankieboywonder
Posts: 318
I know, I know...................we have been around and around on this topic but no one seems to have a clue as to what is causing this disturbing problem.
I have a few proof and unc silver eagles that I keep at home (to admire their beauty) and none of them have developed milk spots..........yet. However, I am scared ****less to go to the bank and check out my 92/93/94 proof eagles that have been stored there since I purchased them from the Mint back in the day. What will I discover?
I would like to have a better understanding of what is causing this problem.
Regular proof coins, including the 90% silver proofs don't develop milkspots. And why not, if milk spots are caused by the 'rinse cycle' in coin production as some are saying. Would not the other proof and unc coins develop problems as well? Or are silver eagles subjected to a 'different' wash?
Surely the Mint has heard of the milkspot problems on many of the silver eagles, and I assume they would have corrected the 'wash' cycle if they determined that was the culprit.
Certainly the Mint does not want one of their top products to turn into a non-seller, especially if it is a problem they can easily correct.
So just what is causing these *&%^* milkspots??!!! And what can I and others do to spot problem eagles and avoid those that will eventually crash and burn!!
Enjoy each day as though it was your last.
0
Comments
<< <i>Difficult to say what causes those milkspots. Current thinking ranges to improper planchet washing by the mint to improper storage by the owner. I know one thing...the spots don't come off. Makes you really want to run out and buy one of those '95 W's eh? >>
I love the '95W eagle, but would never own one. I would not want to spend a huge amount of money on one and then discover one day that the coin devalued greatly because of the cursed milkspots!
<< <i>There are no milkspots on my '95 W silver eagle.... Cheers, RickO >>
<< <i>Difficult to say what causes those milkspots. Current thinking ranges to improper planchet washing by the mint to improper storage by the owner. I know one thing...the spots don't come off. Makes you really want to run out and buy one of those '95 W's eh? >>
I think it's a combination of both... also it seems humidity levels can be a factor...
42/92
Not having the exact knowledge of where and how this lubricant (maybe cleaner but doubtful) would get on the dies or blanks I cannot be sure, but it seems highly likely it could and does happen and would explain how the contaminant being heated and pressed into the metals surface would cause this spotting deep into the surface of the coin.
Again, Just my thoughts on the what and how of milk spots.
Regards to all
Brian Kuszmar
Second generation Coin Dealer
Second Generation Coin, Currency and Precious Metals Dealer
Coin, Currency or Bullion Questions?
Call anytime 954-493-8811
It certainly would be nice to hear from the mint regarding the issue. Especially considering the 20th Anniv. sets and the fact that so many of them will end up graded and in slabs. Let's hope the problem is corrected but until I hear of it mine will be staying in the original capsules.
collections: Maryland related coins & exonumia, 7070 Type set, and Video Arcade Tokens.
The Low Budget Y2K Registry Set
<< <i>Although I don't know what causes them, I will agree with Brian that they are due to mint processes. It is my belief that they do not acquire milk spots over time, but rather have them directly from the mint, or not. The reason they are not discovered and sent back is that they appear on certain coins in rolls that are not looked at, sometimes until they have changed hands many times. >>
Having examined 10's of thousands of coins new in mint package, fresh boxes of silver eagles etc.. You are absolutely correct, providing we talking about the same spots as the other forum posters here. The spots we are refering to are not enviromental in nature, they come directly from the mint looking that way. There seems to also be a large amount of Kennedys and Franklins with this problems to. Mostly confined to business strikes, though I have seen proofs with the same spots.
As stated, I do believe that it is lubricant contaminants minted into the coins surface, if not a lubricant maybe a cleaner.
Regards to all
Brian Kuszmar
Second Generation Coin Dealer
Second Generation Coin, Currency and Precious Metals Dealer
Coin, Currency or Bullion Questions?
Call anytime 954-493-8811
I love the '95W eagle, but would never own one. I would not want to spend a huge amount of money on one and then discover one day that the coin devalued greatly because of the cursed milkspots!
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Concerning the price of a '95W eagle with milk spots, I called a dealer the other day to get a quote on my '95W PCGS 68 DC. He quoted me a price of $4350 over the telephone. I was honest with him and told him there were some milkspots on it that had developed after being slabbed. He revised the price to buy to $4,000. He had not qualms about purchasing it. To me that's still not too bad, seeing that I paid $999 for the entire set in 95. I'm still holding on to it in order to have a complete set, milkspots or no milkspots.
CollectorMan
JMHO
R