I assume this won't come off a Steel cent...

Peaceman · May 2, 2012 11:03AM

Looks like water spots on a silver dollar....

savoyspecial · May 2, 2012 11:07AM

Steel wool will take it right off

Nah, it's toast

lasvegasteddy · May 2, 2012 11:14AM

never had a steelie to know or pass advice on if it is possible

Tdec1000 · May 2, 2012 11:14AM

It is the beginning of corrosion.

LanceNewmanOCC · May 2, 2012 11:44AM

.
i've never messed with conserving steelies, but i get the impression they have one of the most fragile coin surfaces

and when disturbed pretty much ruins em
.

LindeDad · May 2, 2012 11:48AM

Well when I was a kid it would buy a jawbreaker now it won't buy anything.

JRocco · May 2, 2012 11:52AM

I believe those are moisture spots that have begun the process of returning the coin to the earth.

drwstr123 · May 2, 2012 11:53AM

Looks like zinc-oxide.

Coinosaurus · May 2, 2012 11:54AM

<< <i>
i've never messed with conserving steelies, but i get the impression they have one of the most fragile coin surfaces
>>

That's funny, you'd think steel would be real durable.

Gold is softest but seems to "conserve" incredibly well in some cases.

I guess it's more about susceptibility to corrosion, not how hard it is.

savoyspecial · May 2, 2012 12:00PM

>>That's funny, you'd think steel would be real durable.>>

oh, the steel is fine.....what you are seeing is happening to the zinc

messydesk · May 2, 2012 12:51PM

The zinc is corroding. Also has rust by the top right of the 9. Not salvageable.

Were I to buy a steel cent, I'd make sure it was spot-free and in a holder at least 10 years old (i.e., stable).

WoodenJefferson · May 2, 2012 1:11PM

~aaaaaaaaachoo~

LanceNewmanOCC · May 2, 2012 1:39PM

<< <i>>>That's funny, you'd think steel would be real durable.>>
oh, the steel is fine.....what you are seeing is happening to the zinc >>

sounds right to me
.

cladking · May 2, 2012 2:20PM

I've never tried it but I'd expect olive oil to mitigate it and, perhaps, significantly.

Getting the olive oil off might be pretty tough though.

Spooly · May 2, 2012 3:13PM

PCGS just downgraded my 1943-D MS-67 that has the same problem. I got $120 plus the coin (raw) will be returned. It looked like Lincoln sneezed.

notwilight · May 2, 2012 3:37PM

Zinc Oxide. white is to zinc as green is to copper. ever notice what color an old galvanized washtub or bucket turns (before it rusts through). --Jerry

tahoe98 · May 2, 2012 11:58PM

<< <i>Looks like zinc-oxide. >>

...ditto

ricko · May 3, 2012 12:47AM

Yep... that is likely not conservable.... you could try an acetone rinse... but unlikely to help. Best effort may be to send it to NCS... but I doubt it will help. Cheers, RickO

rmpsrpms · May 3, 2012 1:09AM

I don't buy steel cent rolls for this reason. I've had several near-perfect steel cents that would have graded 67 or 68 except for the ugly ZnO corrosion spots. It used to be that these would be replated to make them look better and be more durable. The mint did the Zinc plating on the planchets before striking, so during the strike the metal movement often exposed bare steel, which eventually rusted after the small amount of Zn around it was consumed. If the coins had been plated after striking they would have been much more durable but for some reason (maybe some arcane law limiting what can happen to coins after striking) they chose to plate before the strike. It was probably easier to deal with that way, after all we were at war and few folks were thinking about how well these things would be preserved for future collectors to enjoy.

joeykoins · May 3, 2012 1:17AM

Ala' Silver Eagles, ( milk spots ) dem'darn spots!

I assume this won't come off a Steel cent...

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