SAE's and philosophical dilemma
mhammerman
Posts: 3,769 ✭✭✭
The story begins in a not so curious way...My wife gave me the first 10 years of SAE's in a nice Dansco album as a 10th wedding anniversary gift. She doesn't share my passion for coins but she knows they are one of my "soft spots". She gave them to me a few years after I had abandoned my coin collecting after having lost them all in the '90's bust, along with losing my business too. Those coins brought me back to collecting and now, all's well, fully recovered my where-with-all and my coin collecting hobby too.
As has been reported here, the SAE's have a reputation for getting this nasty white haze or to be more accurate, mold on the surfaces. So, I took them to my dealer for advice and he recommended that they will develope toning from this haze and they will be much sought after. So, I have waited a few years since that advice and no, they are not toning, they just keep getting worse to the point of being ugly to the point of bordering on POS's. The coins have been kept in an air conditioned environment, in my dresser, away from moisture or even contact with outside air.
Of course these coins are much more valuable to me than just an accumulation of SAE's, in fact they are precious. Now, to set the record straight, I am not a fan of conservers or people that alter coins to create a more marketable item so they can prune a couple of more buks out of the collectors. I don't dip, thumb, AT, or any of the other nasty things people are doing to coins these days but...here is the dilemma:
What to do. Well, in an absolute confession, I bought some acetone at the Home Depot and put two coins into the solution for about a minute and rinsed and dried profusely (blotted) after completing the washing. Not much result, some fading of the mold but I can still see it and I know the mold will not stop here, it is a hungry beast and consumes pristine surfaces like a disease. I need these coins to be nice again, I can't jewel luster or otherwise dip because I'm philosophically against it and besides, I do like original surfaces. I am at a loss here. How do preserve orignial surfaces and get rid of this nasty white stuff? And...why did the mint issue a coin that does nothing but get worse with environmental damage as time goes on?
So the dilemma:
1. Should I replace the damaged coins with new ones, seal in airtites, and hope for the best?
2. Should I try more acetone washes until they come clean?
3. Should I try another method or removing the nasty stuff?
4. Should I resign myself to my fate and let my anniversary gift coins rot!
Thanks for any advice.
As has been reported here, the SAE's have a reputation for getting this nasty white haze or to be more accurate, mold on the surfaces. So, I took them to my dealer for advice and he recommended that they will develope toning from this haze and they will be much sought after. So, I have waited a few years since that advice and no, they are not toning, they just keep getting worse to the point of being ugly to the point of bordering on POS's. The coins have been kept in an air conditioned environment, in my dresser, away from moisture or even contact with outside air.
Of course these coins are much more valuable to me than just an accumulation of SAE's, in fact they are precious. Now, to set the record straight, I am not a fan of conservers or people that alter coins to create a more marketable item so they can prune a couple of more buks out of the collectors. I don't dip, thumb, AT, or any of the other nasty things people are doing to coins these days but...here is the dilemma:
What to do. Well, in an absolute confession, I bought some acetone at the Home Depot and put two coins into the solution for about a minute and rinsed and dried profusely (blotted) after completing the washing. Not much result, some fading of the mold but I can still see it and I know the mold will not stop here, it is a hungry beast and consumes pristine surfaces like a disease. I need these coins to be nice again, I can't jewel luster or otherwise dip because I'm philosophically against it and besides, I do like original surfaces. I am at a loss here. How do preserve orignial surfaces and get rid of this nasty white stuff? And...why did the mint issue a coin that does nothing but get worse with environmental damage as time goes on?
So the dilemma:
1. Should I replace the damaged coins with new ones, seal in airtites, and hope for the best?
2. Should I try more acetone washes until they come clean?
3. Should I try another method or removing the nasty stuff?
4. Should I resign myself to my fate and let my anniversary gift coins rot!
Thanks for any advice.
0
Comments
I won't call it mold...But, yes.. I have something eating away at my silver eagles as well. Spots, large and small. They are on my raw ASE's, in Dansco's, and showing up on my certified sets as well.
Some of the sets have been in my garage safe, a couple, upstairs in my office. Neither location has any temp swing. Dipping in acetone does not remove it completely. No relationship to year, that I can tell.
I'm super upset. I thought this problem was with proof issues?
Your best bet, if you can afford it, is to replace the coins that are downright fugly and just suffer through it. You are definitely not alone!
P.S. This condition also occurs on Silver IKE Proofs and is quite common on the Accented Hair Kennedy Proofs.
The name is LEE!
throw out that mold infected album or you will infect other parts of your collection aND HOME
If you want more information on milk spots try a search using SAE or milk spot and you should get quite a few hits.
Perhaps in a few years they will have solved the issue.
Got any pics of them?
collections: Maryland related coins & exonumia, 7070 Type set, and Video Arcade Tokens.
The Low Budget Y2K Registry Set
<< <i>Thanks for all the good input, it looks like replacement is the only option and I will surely upgrade my holder/album and locate into a less toxic environment. I know people call the white growth "milkspots" but it is a very aggressive process and milk spots just sounds way too benign. Thanks again, your advice is very appreciated. >>
From my understanding (and experience) environment has little to do with either the cause or prevention of "milk spots". They are inherent flaws in the coins. And sad to say, your "spot free" replacements, or any of your other SAE's may develope the same spots sooner or later. Replacing these coins may end up being similar to a revolving door...it never stops.
<< <i>I may have missed it, but are we talking about proofs or uncirc SAEs? I have put 16 in a SAE Dansco over the last 7 years and have no milkspots---some great rim toning happening--but no spots. I hear about milk spots on various proof coins, which is why I ask. Are proofs more likely to develop these spots? >>
From my understanding it is predominantly seen on MS SAE's.
<< <i>
<< <i>I may have missed it, but are we talking about proofs or uncirc SAEs? I have put 16 in a SAE Dansco over the last 7 years and have no milkspots---some great rim toning happening--but no spots. I hear about milk spots on various proof coins, which is why I ask. Are proofs more likely to develop these spots? >>
From my understanding it is predominantly seen on MS SAE's. >>
Hmmm! Mine are all MS--guess I've just been lucky.
if any coins ever justified a dip, these are it.
i vote #3: dip them in EZ-est and be thrilled with the results.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Try denatured alcohol. It is much stronger than you think. Its also not as harmful as acetone. The alcohol will evaporate (burn off) the coin also
so there is no need to blot dry.
<< <i>Try denatured alcohol. It is much stronger than you think. Its also not as harmful as acetone. The alcohol will evaporate (burn off) the coin also
so there is no need to blot dry. >>
Hi netrubicon: Just wondering, in what way have you found acetone to be harmful? thanks. - Preussen
<< <i> can't jewel luster or otherwise dip because I'm philosophically against it
if any coins ever justified a dip, these are it.
i vote #3: dip them in EZ-est and be thrilled with the results. >>
Why not?--you're already unhappy with them--at the worst you get spot silver $$.
<< <i>
<< <i>Try denatured alcohol. It is much stronger than you think. Its also not as harmful as acetone. The alcohol will evaporate (burn off) the coin also
so there is no need to blot dry. >>
Hi netrubicon: Just wondering, in what way have you found acetone to be harmful? thanks. - Preussen >>
Acetone is extremely flamable and should be used in a well ventilated area. Read the label for all the warnings.
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"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire