Coin World Article on ASE Milk Spots
FLBuffaloHunter
Posts: 3,127
Looks like the news finally has hit the mainstream media. In the January 07, 2008 Coin World, there is an article about how 'Milk Spots' on ASE's are plaguing grading services and that PCGS is offering a $50,000 reward for a safe solution to the problem. Coin World states these are not the white splotches commonly seen on Proof silver coins from 1958 to 1964 or earlier on some Peace silver dollars. David Hall is quoted as stating "Whatever the substance of the spots may be, it will dip off Proofs", "It will not dip off MS Eagles".
Never teach a pig to sing. You'll waste your time and annoy the pig 
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Box of 20
my 86-90 set were perfect to begin with but I noticed on my 92 and 97 a couple of spots developing- so out came the good stuff a quick bath, clean air to make sure of no puddling and back in a alcohol wiped down case they came in originally.
No spotus amongus, so no fungus.
<< <i>BuffHunter.. did they elaborate on what the dipping medium was?? Cheers, RickO >>
The article just explains the dipping proccess as a mild acidic solution specially formulated to remove foreign matter and toning followed immediately by a neutralizer such as distilled water, acetone or isopropyl alcohol.
The article says NGC has encountered the same problem with ASE's since the program began and that NGC was not aware if it happened more on the Proof or Uncirculated coins. NGC also stated there has been speculation about differences in planchets as well as in the solutions that the Mint uses to wash and rinse the planchets before striking.
Coin World quotes David Hall as saying that collectors should not be concerned that something in PCGS holders is causing the spots. Spots have been known to develop both before and after the coins have been placed in the holders, which, he noted, have been designed to be inert and that PCGS has spent a great deal of money already on chemical analysis of the spots. PCGS does not know what the Mint uses in its washes and rinses, the article notes.
Coin World says they asked the Mint about these compositions and if differences existed between the planchets used for Uncirculated and Proof versions but have not received an answer from the Mint.
share their findings?
Regards
Jon
<< <i>I doubt if the mint could care less. As long as there is buyers..........nothing will change
Regards
Jon >>
If the U.S. mint don't do anything about it, there will be less buyers, so they better care.
While there are some reports of spotting on ASEs outside of slabs, it seems the vast majority of spots occur on slabbed coins. Slabbed ASEs probably cover a minority of the ASEs and collectors out there.
If it's true that the vast majority of collectors will not experience spots, then perhaps the TPGs can convince the Mint to care for TPG customers. That will work better if the Mint is convinced the TPGs care about Mint customers, through various marketing programs and the like.
If it's true that the vast majority of spots occur on slabbed ASEs, one has to consider whether the Mint thinks slabbing ASEs is a good thing. It may increase revenues in the short run but the existence of speculators can crash a market by oversubscribing and creating too much supply, killing the Mint's golden goose. Speculators and slabs are certainly driving up many mintages to max mintage without demand support, creating an environment where supply will overwhelm collector demand, resulting in less unintentional low mintage "winners" at the same time. The Mint has already attempted to limit speculator activity and the consumer dissatisfaction that comes with it.
Maybe it's the ambient humidity/temperatures where they are stored/slabbed as well as that factor changing on a regular or non-regular basis.
Living in Houston, I have over 800(scratch that, just checked the spreadsheet, make that 1264) ASEs, mostly all raw or in 2X2s and albums. Though well over a hundred are slabbed by both the big two as well.
(Knock wood) But I've never had a single milk spot yet. Never experienced one on a silver proof from days of yore either, though that's a bit off-topic here.
I've talked to a couple of other guys around here with quantities of them and they've never experienced any spotting either.
I've also never seen a spotted one in a display case around town and I've asked if thay had that issue going on.
Simple answer, "Nope, never, at least not yet and not since the series began."
Perhaps slabbing and then shipping to a cold dry climate could be a clue........... or not.
I'll just consider myself lucky for now, but in nearly 20 years I've never had one spot.
I've seen plenty of the Spotted Owls...errr, um, Eagles.....but only at shows where they travel all around.
Again, just a WAG.
John Marnard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235ff
Box of 20
<< <i>Maybe it's the ambient humidity/temperatures where they are stored/slabbed as well as that factor changing on a regular or non-regular basis. >>
Good point...the only "spotted ones" that I've ever received, came from folks living close to the Ocean in FL or CA.
<< <i>
<< <i>Maybe it's the ambient humidity/temperatures where they are stored/slabbed as well as that factor changing on a regular or non-regular basis. >>
Good point...the only "spotted ones" that I've ever received, came from folks living close to the Ocean in FL or CA. >>
Then it may be a simple matter of washing with an antidote.
<< <i>
<< <i>Maybe it's the ambient humidity/temperatures where they are stored/slabbed as well as that factor changing on a regular or non-regular basis. >>
Good point...the only "spotted ones" that I've ever received, came from folks living close to the Ocean in FL or CA. >>
being on the CA left coast, i have evidence of spotting~much greater after slabbing than in OGP. i have a 94 ASE (oldest one i have) still pristine in OGP, yet a percentage of slabbed have turned, both proof and ASE
my junk stuff which has followed me for 40 plus years, copper, nickel, silver and gold...open to the environment is fine.
<< <i>Thanks... I wish I still had access to an atomic absorption unit or spectrophotometer... that $50K would be nice... Cheers, RickO >>
I doubt that either would do you much good here.