Rust on silver coins?

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 3:46PM

Does it get worse over time? My coins are 0.917 silver.

TomB · March 10, 2025 4:07PM

Rust? That term is generally understood to mean iron oxides, which are typically not found on 0.917 silver coins.

CaptHenway · March 10, 2025 4:18PM

Do you mean toning? I strongly suggest that you do nothing to them. Toning may be attractive, but cleaning them often lowers their values.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:25PM

@TomB said:
Rust? That term is generally understood to mean iron oxides, which are typically not found on 0.917 silver coins.

I do not know the proper term. Just looks like rust areas on my coin. It is for sure 0.917 silver as they were all from that series.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:26PM

@CaptHenway said:
Do you mean toning? I strongly suggest that you do nothing to them. Toning may be attractive, but cleaning them often lowers their values.

No toning I would know this looks like rust spots.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:29PM

This one is bad the one I am talking about has little spots here and there nothing like this. Both coins are mine:

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:36PM

Do coins with this type of ''rust'' get worse over time?

CaptHenway · March 10, 2025 4:38PM

On a coin of that vintage I would not worry about it.

Barberian · March 10, 2025 4:39PM

Legit "rust" on US .900 silver. Note iron under wing and near Liberty's foot

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:41PM

@CaptHenway said:
On a coin of that vintage I would not worry about it.

Will it get worse over time? Or just stay the same?

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:42PM

@TomB said:
Rust? That term is generally understood to mean iron oxides, which are typically not found on 0.917 silver coins.

If iron oxides does it get worse over time? These coins for the 1700's from Latin America may not have all been minted with the alloys (silver/copper mix) properly mixed.

ChrisH821 · March 10, 2025 4:42PM

I would expect it to stay the same, as long as storage conditions are acceptable.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:44PM

@ChrisH821 said:
I would expect it to stay the same, as long as storage conditions are acceptable.

Just curious if it were to get worse what exactly would happen? I know about PVC but this I do not know.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 4:48PM

@Barberian said:
Legit "rust" on US .900 silver. Note iron under wing and near Liberty's foot

And long term how could it get worse? I imagine it would just stay the same.

Barberian · March 10, 2025 4:55PM

As far as I know, it doesn't spread over the surface or get worse.

TheGoonies1985 · March 10, 2025 5:03PM

@Barberian said:
As far as I know, it doesn't spread over the surface or get worse.

That makes sens since it cannot spread to the silver since silver does not ''rust''. Thanks.

sellitstore · March 11, 2025 6:35AM

That's not the coin that is producing the rust.

The 1 real coin has rust adhering to it from either being buried or stored next to iron for years. The rust has adhered to the surface and should not spread, just as it did on many of the S.S. Central America gold coins before the rust was removed.

Bright (not dull) green corrosion on bronze is active and should be addressed but that (and PVC accumulation) are the corrosive enemies of coins that need to be watched.

TheGoonies1985 · March 11, 2025 1:36PM

Thanks guys!!!

TheGoonies1985 · March 11, 2025 1:45PM

@sellitstore said:
That's not the coin that is producing the rust.

The 1 real coin has rust adhering to it from either being buried or stored next to iron for years. The rust has adhered to the surface and should not spread, just as it did on many of the S.S. Central America gold coins before the rust was removed.

Bright (not dull) green corrosion on bronze is active and should be addressed but that (and PVC accumulation) are the corrosive enemies of coins that need to be watched.

I acetone bath all my coins. So if there was any PVC it would be gone.

TheGoonies1985 · March 11, 2025 2:47PM

@sellitstore said:
That's not the coin that is producing the rust.

The 1 real coin has rust adhering to it from either being buried or stored next to iron for years. The rust has adhered to the surface and should not spread, just as it did on many of the S.S. Central America gold coins before the rust was removed.

Bright (not dull) green corrosion on bronze is active and should be addressed but that (and PVC accumulation) are the corrosive enemies of coins that need to be watched.

Can it become bright green over time (what would cause it to do so) the exposed cooper on silver coins? Would the acetone bath eliminate that? And once gone will it stay away? All my coins are 0.917 silver.

I do not see anything green on either of my 2 coins looking with a microscope. I put all my coins in 2 by 2 Mylar cardboard flips. I imagine that would prevent it from becoming green over time since no moisture would get to it (or very minimal if any).

TheGoonies1985 · March 11, 2025 2:58PM

Does anyone here own such coins and if so have they become greenish over time the exposed copper areas? Would acetone be enough to deal with such an issue or would it take some other product?

Crepidodera · March 11, 2025 3:33PM

Might not be rust on the reverse of my 1862-S quarter, but sure looks like it.

Doug

RiveraFamilyCollect · March 11, 2025 4:03PM

Silver reacts with the sulfur in the air. Milk spots happen and as far as I know cannot be removed.
Old silver coins turn black and cracked around the edges.

for whatever reason people get annoyed when you call silver reacting to the environment rust.

Their "rust is iron oxide" argument isn't as strong as the "rust like process that metal endures" meaning that people use.

Keep calling it rust just to annoy them

Will it get worse over time, probably. Almost certainly.

hummingbird_coins · March 11, 2025 4:23PM

@Crepidodera said:
Might not be rust on the reverse of my 1862-S quarter, but sure looks like it.

Doug

Rare "Eagle Armpit Hair" variety!

TheGoonies1985 · March 11, 2025 4:34PM

@Crepidodera said:
Might not be rust on the reverse of my 1862-S quarter, but sure looks like it.

Doug

Same as my coin.> @RiveraFamilyCollect said:

Silver reacts with the sulfur in the air. Milk spots happen and as far as I know cannot be removed.
Old silver coins turn black and cracked around the edges.

for whatever reason people get annoyed when you call silver reacting to the environment rust.

Their "rust is iron oxide" argument isn't as strong as the "rust like process that metal endures" meaning that people use.

Keep calling it rust just to annoy them

Will it get worse over time, probably. Almost certainly.

How could it get worse over time? What would happen? Rust cannot spread to silver. Silver does not rust. It is the copper alloy. I have owned this coin for years and just looked at it it is the exact same nothing has changed (no green areas either).

Mr_Spud · March 12, 2025 5:33AM

If you keep it dry, in an enclosed container with desiccant, it should remain stable and not get worse.

Rust on silver coins?

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