2010 ASE Proof - 3 of 10 with Milkspots

swest · November 26, 2010 5:58AM

Hey, I haven't been on in a LONG time. I collect ASE Proofs and of course last year was a dud. Anyway, I was excited to order some ASE on my subscription and ordered 10 which I plan to get graded. I filled out the paperwork (Wow first strike has gotten silly expensive!) and start getting coins ready. I did a brief inspection on each coin. I was very surprised to see a milk spot. I continued to look and now I am going to go back through the 7 clean ones just to make sure. 3 of the 10 have clear milkspots on the coin. They are small but they are there.

With the expense of grading, designation, and shipping - I thought I just saved myself over $100 by sending these back to PCGS. Be sure to check them!

Swest

coinman420 · November 26, 2010 6:20AM

i have heard that an acetone dip will neutralize the milkspots.

JupitarCoins · November 26, 2010 6:25AM

I hope you plan on sending those 3 back to the mint!!
If you still can.

ricko · November 26, 2010 6:51AM

Dip in acetone upon receipt... then do what ever you want to do with them. Cheers, RickO

derryb · November 26, 2010 7:20AM

<< I hope you plan on sending those 3 back to the mint!!
If you still can. >>

Buyer has seven days after receipt to return to the mint. They even include a return form, but postage is on the buyer.

DieClash · November 26, 2010 7:36AM

<< Dip in acetone upon receipt... then do what ever you want to do with them. Cheers, RickO >>

Has it been proved that acetone will neutralize the source of the milk-spotting!

I've been collecting these since 1986 anywhere from 1 to 3 ea. per issue. I have no evidence of milk spots on any of my coins and I've never given them an acetone bath. These are all Raw of course.

Cheers!

Kirk

swest · November 26, 2010 7:40AM

I sent those three back to the Mint. I actually will get some graded, try to get a 70 or two and then vacuum package them up. No Milk on those that I have seen. But this is the first time I have received some from the Mint that are already spotting.

So I returned those and teh other 7 are off to PCGS. I have never done the acetone bath. Heck, I don't even open the coin holders because I am paranoid to mess up the coins

. Last time I got them graded the first strike was $10 or so, not $18. That was a shock. But I am going to do it this last time.

I do have some raw ones but for my vacuum collection I just buy, grade, put in bank box, and forget!

Swest

DieClash · November 26, 2010 9:25AM

Swest,

DO you submit them in the mint capsule only, or the unopened mint box, or else a soft flip?

Kirk

coinman420 · November 26, 2010 10:57AM

<< Swest,

DO you submit them in the mint capsule only, or the unopened mint box, or else a soft flip?

Kirk >>

i started out sending in the mint packaging and requesting all packaging returned but sometimes capsules were missing or nothing was returned.

i switched to sending in mylar flips and have had good results(many MS70`s) in my submissions.

i have to add that i have never tried the acetone dip i mentioned in my earlier post.

derryb · November 26, 2010 12:23PM

Always submit modern mint coins in their original mint capsules. NGC and PCGS both accept submissions with coins in original capsules. You won't get the capsule back but you have a much better shot at a 70.

Goldbully · November 26, 2010 12:32PM

You won't get the capsule back but you have a much better shot at a 70.

derryb, request capsule back and you wil get capsule back from PCGS!!!!
Always works for me.

notwilight · November 26, 2010 12:34PM

This thread is useless without pics.

derryb · November 26, 2010 1:00PM

<< You won't get the capsule back but you have a much better shot at a 70.

derryb, request capsule back and you wil get capsule back from PCGS!!!!
Always works for me. >>

sorry, meant to say you won't always get the capsule back. Sometimes they honor my request, sometimes they don't.

messydesk · November 26, 2010 1:14PM

Last handful I sent in came back without requested capsules, but that was quite some time ago. If you really want them, don't send them in.

boucharda · November 26, 2010 9:04PM

I always send coins in their original capsules.... especially proofs.

Never thought to request them back....

golfer72 · November 26, 2010 10:16PM

Wasnt PCGS itself doing some sort of experiment or study to determine what can be done to remove milk spots? I remember reading about it a year or so ago but havent heard anything lately.

BigE · November 27, 2010 3:12AM

So what is the total cost of getting 10 2010 proof ASE's graded under the first strike label including ins. and shipping?-----------------BigE

BigE · November 27, 2010 3:27AM

Figured it out from another thread, 32.00 a piece for grading, plus 30.00 or so for shipping both ways so about 350.00 to get them into first strike holders, plus the cost of the coin, you will be in each one 81.00----------------------------BigE

BAJJERFAN · November 27, 2010 3:57AM

<< i have heard that an acetone dip will neutralize the milkspots. >>

How so?

BAJJERFAN · November 27, 2010 3:58AM

<< 

<< I hope you plan on sending those 3 back to the mint!!
If you still can. >>

Buyer has seven days after receipt to return to the mint. They even include a return form, but postage is on the buyer. >>

Unless they have changed their policy they will refund return postage, but you have to ask.

BAJJERFAN · November 27, 2010 4:00AM

<< 

<< Dip in acetone upon receipt... then do what ever you want to do with them. Cheers, RickO >>

Has it been proved that acetone will neutralize the source of the milk-spotting!

I've been collecting these since 1986 anywhere from 1 to 3 ea. per issue. I have no evidence of milk spots on any of my coins and I've never given them an acetone bath. These are all Raw of course.

Cheers!

Kirk >>

You all need to learn the difference between removal and neutralization as they are not the same. Yes it is nit picky, but if yer gonna talk technical, be accurate and correct even down to the gnat's ass.

coinman420 · November 27, 2010 4:36AM

<< 

<< i have heard that an acetone dip will neutralize the milkspots. >>

How so? >>

i guess that was poorly worded on my part. i have read on this forum that some members do an acetone bath to ASE`s before submitting to help prevent milkspots from appearing. my original post suggested acetone would remove existing spots. my bad.

57loaded · November 27, 2010 4:41AM

i agree with BAJJERFAN.

acetone will not remove spots, yet it should keep more from forming or the exisiting ones from "growing".

if the spot is on the mirror, MS70 done with care should remove the spot, rinse in distilled water, then acetone it. i cracked a reverse proof PR67 because of spotting and got rid of the spot and use it as my raw example.

a dip will work, too but as a last resort.

IF the coin is flawless sans a minor mirror spot, i'd try to get it off with MS70 and rinse in acetone then submit to PCGS rather than just sending it back. your odds of getting a real nice one in return from the warehouse is not in your favor. (JMHExperience)

morgansforever · November 27, 2010 4:47AM

Milk spots are actually the rinse that has dried on the planchet before striking.
When the ASE is struck, the area of the dried spot is then pressed into the coin.
It is part of the coin and can't be removed. JMHO.
scott

MsMorrisine · November 27, 2010 5:33AM

<< You won't get the capsule back but you have a much better shot at a 70.

derryb, request capsule back and you wil get capsule back from PCGS!!!!
Always works for me. >>

I sometimes get them back cracked and a rare time, not at all. I've started to pre-open them so they can be more readily pried open at PCGS.

tcmitssr · November 27, 2010 2:56PM

I got three. Checked all three with a 20x loupe. Convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all would grade PR70 DCAM without breaking a sweat.

swest · December 11, 2010 12:25PM

Sorry for the long delay in response. I got out of the coin hobby for a bit with work keeping me busy. I sent the coin to PCGS in the coin holder. I don't take them out of those, heck never really figured out how. I didn't want to get oil or anything on them.

I am seriously starting to reconsider the value of getting these graded. I have a collection and I like them graded by PCGS. I try to get a couple 70s but pricing is silly. All my earlier ones are first strike so I stuck with it but man it is really prohibative now. Between that and standard grading, I am paying $32 per coin and that is before the insane shipping costs we pay as well. That was $21 or so to get them sent less than 80 miles to where I live from PCGS.

This might be my last year since the quality is seemingly down and the expenses are up.

Swest

OPA · December 11, 2010 1:35PM

<< Milk spots are actually the rinse that has dried on the planchet before striking.
When the ASE is struck, the area of the dried spot is then pressed into the coin.
It is part of the coin and can't be removed. JMHO.
scott >>

Absolutely .... You are wasting your time using Acetone in the above example, however, "milky spots" that are caused by environmental surroundings (humidity, poor storage etc) may benefit from Acetone, MS70 or a dip)

timber100 · December 11, 2010 1:59PM

Ricko, can you post a link to the detailed, correct way to do the acetone bath? I am not sure of the stay time in the bath and if a rinse with distilled water after is required. Thanks!

ricko · December 11, 2010 11:35PM

I learned to dip these in acetone to prevent milk spot manifestation from Russ. I pour an inch of acetone into a shallow glass container. Using cotton gloves, I hold the coin by the edges and swish it around in the acetone. Then I rinse it with alcohol and follow that with very hot water. I place it on a soft cotton cloth (like Tshirt material) and gently blow dry with warm air. (both sides). I have never had milkspots on my ASE's. Oh yes, I do agree, the process is a neutralization. Cheers, RickO

derryb · December 12, 2010 12:27AM

<< This thread is useless without pics. >>

Here's the capsules I didn't get back from grading:

messydesk · December 12, 2010 3:44AM

<< 

<< This thread is useless without pics. >>

Here's the capsules I didn't get back from grading: >>

Those look just like the ones I didn't get back. I wonder if they're only keeping that type and returning the rest.

timber100 · December 12, 2010 8:34AM

<< I learned to dip these in acetone to prevent milk spot manifestation from Russ. I pour an inch of acetone into a shallow glass container. Using cotton gloves, I hold the coin by the edges and swish it around in the acetone. Then I rinse it with alcohol and follow that with very hot water. I place it on a soft cotton cloth (like Tshirt material) and gently blow dry with warm air. (both sides). I have never had milkspots on my ASE's. Oh yes, I do agree, the process is a neutralization. Cheers, RickO >>

Thank you for the response, I assume you are using laboratory grade acetone and alcohol, is the hot water bath distilled water? I just pulled out a civil war comm that I had not looked at for years and it did not have spots, but it had white haze around the perimeter. After that I decided I need to at least try to help my coins. I assume the acetone bath would also help to prevent the white haze? Thanks

swest · December 14, 2010 9:06AM

Grades in on the 7 I sent in - 6 PR69DCAM and 1 PR70DCAM. I have to admit, this is the last year for me. I think the expense has gotten way too high to get these graded, especially with first strike. And on top of that, to sell these at all close to what you put in, that designation is key.

Please keep in mind that I am not a flipper type. I try to buy enough to keep a couple 70s at a low entry point. But PCGS 69DCAM are going in the $50-$60 range and it cost me personally - $45 +$32 + shipping to get them. That is $77 a coin plus shipping and ebay fees if and when I sell.

The PR70DCAM are going right around $105, so there is absolutely no way to even come close to breaking even. If I had gotten 3 70DCAM maybe..barely. But my goal is always to get 2 70s. It is WAY cheaper to just buy them on ebay at $100 or so and be done with it.

Just my two cents.

Swest

2010 ASE Proof - 3 of 10 with Milkspots

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